NGV & Midsumma: Queer Histories, Futures & Creativity
Catch these curator-led tours, conversations and a special edition of NGV Friday Nights, each exploring a new perspective of LGBTQIA+ art and culture.
Overview
Midsumma, Victoria's premier LGBTQIA+ annual event, has just kicked off, serving up 22 days of bright and bold happenings until Monday, February 2. Having been frequent collaborators in recent years, the rainbow-tinged festival is once again teaming up with the NGV to present Queer Histories, Futures & Creativity — a special program highlighting LGBTQIA+ stories from the 20th century through to the present.
The series kicks off on Friday, January 30, with a Midsumma-curated edition of NGV Friday Nights. Taking over the Great Hall from 6–10pm, queer club scene regular DJ ENN is spinning the tunes. At the same time, award-winning performance artist Bendy Ben roves the ground floor, captivating audiences with their brand of drag cabaret that shifts between high art and the glitter-speckled gutter.
On Saturday, February 7, this collaboration reaches its peak with four events throughout the day. Babies & Barking Dogs: Keith Haring & Melbourne reflects on the iconic artist's 1984 visit to Melbourne, exploring his creative legacy and socio-cultural impact. Then, Beyond the Binary: Marlow Moss delves into the artist's contributions to queer art and culture, contextualised by the NGV's recent acquisition of Moss' painting, Composition yellow, blue, black, red and white.
In the afternoon, it's time for Queer Worldmaking: Women Photographers 1900–1975. Here, NGV curators Maggie Finch and Meg Slater lead a ticketed tour of the ongoing NGV exhibition, highlighting a selection of the LGBTQIA+ moments on display. Finally, Re-Imagining Gender: Rei Kawakubo & Vivienne Westwood reveals how these landmark artists subverted gender to transform how we think about fashion — a free booking is required.
Top image: Wild Hardt Photography.
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