Adelaide - Museum and Art Gallery

During the week I spent in Adelaide at Easter time, on the 23rd of April, my intention had been to go to the northern suburb of Elizabeth, to see the Royal couple William and Kate, but I realized that it would take me one and a half hours to get there by public transport and by that time I would certainly be no closer to them than if I watched them on TV that evening! I later heard on the news that some people camped there overnight just to be first in line, others were there at 3am!! 

Instead I walked around the city visiting new sights since I was last there. 

Adelaide Convention Centre and the Torrens River

The newly renovated Adelaide Sports Oval 

 Starting at the west side of North Terrace, the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute  is a state of the art 25,000 sq metre building that cost $200 million and was officially opened towards the end of 2013. 
The curved building is covered with over 6000 double glazed triangles with metal sunshades for optimum weather control. Behind the triangles multiple colours flash out from the transparent glass, and at night when the building is lit it looks like a multicoloured cut-glass brooch.

(photo form net)

 Walking on the footpath along the river Torrens towards the East side I then climbed the stairs leading to the grounds of the University of South Australia.

 Atop the stairs at the south end of the University bridge,  I saw this plaque commemorating the drowning of Professor George Duncan in the River Torrens. There has never been a conviction of his murderers (presumably members of the Police force), but this brought about reform for the acceptance of the gay community.

 

One of the many University Buildings

Next to the University buildings are the Art Gallery of South Australia, the the South Australian Museum , and the modern State Library.

All are located on North Terrace, and entry is free  (you can donate a gold coin if you wish) and they are open from 10am to 5pm.

The current exhibition  at the Art Museum, was the "Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art - Dark Heart" which runs until 11th May.

Just outside the Art Gallery was this black half buried house that was part of the exhibition, by Perth artist Ian Strange , a replica of his Perth childhood home.

Ian Strange's home in front of the Art Gallery of South Australia

The house seen from the back with the main facade facing North Terrace.

 The above art "108" works by Sydney based Aboriginal artist "Tony Albert" 

This strange contraption which included step-ladders, fans, keyboards, umbrellas, televisions, etc is the work of New York based Australian artist Ian Burns.

"The Island" this huge painting by Sydney born Ben Quilty , winner of the Archibald prize 2011

This poignant work entitled "Someone died trying to have a life like mine" by Alex Seton, refers to an incident when 28 life-jackets were discovered washed up on Cocos Island, off the coast of Western Australia in May 2013. They are carved out of Wombeyan marble and each one is different.

 

Ex deMedici, a former tattoo artist, is the artist behind the works in the above 2 photos.

On the wall "The Law", represents firearms in a Persian inspired rug and logos of Western multinationals.

The one on the floor is made up of bullet cases, bullets and coins, with the flag symbols of England/Australia  on the bottom corner and the Stars and Stripes flag symbol of the USA on the top corner.

 

Woven in synthetic rope, leather and rubber, these huge suspended sculptures titled "Armour" were inspired by the Samurai armour, and were done by Spanish born artist Dani Marti, who is now based in Sydney. 

 "Mob Rule" by Melbourne artist Tony Garifalakis comprises of 85 defaced portraits of world leaders, like evil villains and anti-heroes, contesting the accumulation of power and the status quo.

Next door to the Art Gallery is the Museum, where I popped in for a quick tour.
The modern glass facade contrasts with the brick original building indoors.
The wild animals from the various continents, the minerals, etc were very similar to the exhibits in the Perth Museum.

Outside the Museum a man was feeding hundreds of pigeons

Hope you enjoyed the tour of Adelaide and the Art exhibition.