Every Brilliant Eye: Australian Art of the 1990s

Overview

Maybe you lived through it. Maybe you were too young. Maybe you weren't even around yet. Whichever applies, we can still all agree that the '90s gifted the world with a host of wonders. The music, the clothing, the TV, the movies, the stars...if they were around in Australia two decades ago, then they probably make an appearance at NGV Australia's new exhibition.

Popping up at the Ian Potter Centre from June 2 to October 1, Every Brilliant Eye: Australian Art of the 1990s celebrates the creativity of the period in question, featuring more than 100 works from the NGV Collection, plus selected pieces relating to various artist collectives, artist run spaces and subcultures that emerged during the influential decade. If the name sounds familiar, that's because it comes from a Died Pretty track. And if it doesn't, make hunting down the song your first piece of '90s fun.

There's plenty on offer in the exhibition itself, including an entire room dedicated to club culture, including a music video and fashions from the era on display. Or, feast your eyes on all things grunge, check out the work of the three Indigenous female artists who represented Australia at the Venice Biennale of 1997 (Emily Kam Kngwarray, Yvonne Koolmatrie and Judy Watson), or enjoy an Unplugged Live conversation series complete with chats with '90s musos, as hosted by The Panics' singer-songwriter Jae Laffer.

Images: Installation view of Every Brilliant Eye: Australian Art in the 1990s at NGV Australia, shot by Thomas Dallas Watson.