Paola Pivi: You Started It… I Finished It

Overview

The NGV is currently stocked up with priceless Italian Renaissance paintings. Shipped straight from Spain's Royal Court, the artworks on display illustrate the technical prowess and much-lauded traditions of the great masters. In stark contrast to this, the gallery's entrance is about to get swarmed by a pack of life-sized bear sculptures covered in neon feathers. You definitely can't criticise the NGV for being predictable.

These bears come from the hand of contemporary Italian artist Paola Pivi. Known for her surreal creations and cheeky sense of humour, You Started It... I Finished It follows on from her past exhibitions shown all around the world including OK, You Are Better Than Me, So What? in New York and Fant Ass Tic in Italy. See? She's pretty great.

In this showing at Federation Court, Pivi is bringing eight of her flamboyant bears to play. All with distinct personalities, one leaps from the balcony towards incoming gallery patrons, others seem to be interacting with each other, and some are just dopey loners — curled up in a fantastical pink ball in the corner. Get ready, this may in fact be what heaven looks like.

Image: Paola Pivi, exhibition view of OK, you are better than me, so what?, 2013, courtesy of Galerie Perrotin, New York. Photo: Guillaume Ziccarelli.