Welcome to my city!
It was a sunny winter’s day, and Pete and I took a trip down to the historic Rocks district to visit the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA).
The Rocks, built along Sydney’s foreshore, was the site of Australia’s first European settlement in 1788. The area now has protected status, and its original architecture has been preserved. Skyscrapers dominate from Circular Quay onwards…
We had a delicious lunch at the MCA restaurant, sitting outside and gazing at the Opera House…
Everything about the MCA is cool, even the hand dryers in the bathrooms…
The 18th Biennale of Sydney, our largest contemporary visual arts event, is currently in full swing. The MCA plays an integral part in this, with two floors of the museum currently dedicated to Biennale installations.
Here’s just a snippet of what the MCA has on offer at the moment. All the photos were taken with my iPhone4S, using the Hipstamatic app (Foxy lens, Pistil film, for those who are interested). The size and majesty of many of the displays was hard to capture (especially as flash photography is prohibited).
This large installation by Thai artist, Pinaree Sanpitak is entitled Anything Can Break. The accompanying music makes standing under the display a complete sensory experience…
The Biennale includes several audio visual pieces, including Air Land by Khaled Sabsabi..
Moon Jars, by Pak Young-Sook…
The Mending Project, by Lee Mingwei is an interactive piece – members of the public bring clothing that needs to be mended and chat to the artists as it’s being repaired. The clothing is then left for the duration of the exhibition…
All the pieces remain connected to the spools mounted on the wall…
Multicoloured oil paints on canvas, by Thai artist Mit Jai Inn…
Hidden away in a darkened corner is Brisbane artist Ross Manning’s Fixational Eye (Vertical), a spinning light display…
I could have stood there watching it all day…
Woven Water: Submarine Landscape I by Maria Fernanda Cardosa incorporates preserved starfish…
These Manster pieces by Maria Kozic are direction specific. Here they are viewed from the left…
..and from the right…
Girelal by Alick Tipoti is a very large linocut mounted on canvas – my iPhone could only capture sections of it…
I found A Journey by Judith Wright very moving (but hard to photograph in the deliberately dimly lit room)…
The top floor of the MCA offers a café with breathtaking views…
Astonishingly, entry to the MCA is free. If you’re in Sydney, do wander in for a visit, and maybe support them as we did, by eating in one of their restaurants or purchasing from their very funky shop!
Museum of Contemporary Art
140 George St
The Rocks
Sydney NSW 2000
10am – 5pm Mon – Wed, Fri – Sun
10am – 9pm Thursdays
Closed Christmas Day
Website: www.mca.com.au
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
I love the starfish exhibit- thanks for taking us along, Celia!
Great post!
Thanks for coming! :) It’s a great place.. x
I really enjoy going to museums of contemporary art. I’m not going to lie and say that I like every piece or even understand them all. What I do enjoy is that many pieces cannot be taken at face value; some thought must be applied if one wants to attempt to understand the artist’s vison. Others, like Manster, have a definite humorous side, no pun intended. Your MCA would definitely be on my Must See list if I return to Sydney. Thanks, Celia, for giving me a glimpse.
John, I love the scale of some of the pieces – which makes them hard to capture in photos – and the multisensory approach. Such a difference to walking around a gallery with flat paintings! :)
Thanks for taking us along with you Celia. Ordinarily I would not get to see museums and the like like this.
:-) Mandy
Mandy, I’ve discovered some very cool museum apps for the iPhone in case it’s of interesting including ones for MoMA and QAGOMA. Both museums I’ve never been to!
Thanks for the tour of MCA, sure is a fun and diversify exhibit. Love the blue and white museum signage in the first photo, very “contemporary” indeed. Such gorgeous views from the cafe.
Norma, like the exhibits, the views are free, which on a sunny day feels like someone has given us a generous gift! :)
Thanks for sharing this Celia! Looks like it was a fascinating experience. We’re planning a trip back to Sydney (hopefully sooner than later!) and the MCA looks like a cool place to check out. I need to add things to my list other than restaurants and markets!! I like getting tips from a ‘local’ view. Thanks :)
Emilie, it really is fabulous and a great day out! Hope you get to visit it!
Sydney has some wonderful places of interest, Celia! Thanks for sharing your visit.
We really are very lucky, although Canberra has some amazing places too, Lizzy! We used to love taking the boys to Questacon!
Love the clothing and spools! Such a wonderful concept. Thank, Celia!
Misky, isn’t it clever? When I first read about it, I had no idea that all the clothing would remain attached – it’s fascinating to see the spiderweb of threads. I wonder how they manage not to get them all entangled!
Well done, knew you would love it, now you should see the Biennale offering at AGNSW next. Roz
Yes, you are a very good influence, Roz! Thank you darling. xx
Great photos Celia. What a great day you had, The MCA cafe is one of the hidden gems of circular quay . I cant believe people leave their clothes to be repaired… wish I knew!
http://www.mykitchenstories.com.au
Tania, it’s still running, so if you have anything that needs mending, there’s still time.. :D
That Lino cut is fabulous indeed! Its amazing that admission is free :)
Becca, the lino cut was twice as big again! There were so many other exhibits that I just couldn’t capture in the darker lighting…
Lovely post Celia! It’s so much fun to be a tourist in your own city! Love a visit to the MCA – always inspires a bit of debate, especially the recent architectural changes ; )
Oh, you don’t like them? I think they’ve done a great job.. :)
Thanks for sharing your trip, Celia – and all the great pics!
Thanks Amanda! It was a great day out!
Thanks Celia. My friend told me about the mending project and it sounded very interesting but great to get to see it!
Claire, I love that art extends to the whole experience, not just the viewing. When we were there, I found myself wishing I’d brought a piece for mending..
thanks for bringing me halfway around the world to see something I would never have the opportunity to see.
from a mountain in Northern Idaho, USA
Isabel, thank you – your comment made this entire post worthwhile! :)
We did have some lovely weather last week so a trip to the MCA and a wander around the Rocks would have been lovely. I’ve heard the cafe and restaurant are wonderful xx
Charlie, it was the first time we’d eaten there, and the food was great. And just lovely to be able to sit so close to the water, and not be paying three hat prices!
Great shots! We must get up there, thanks for sharing this.
Rose, I hope you make it up! The Biennale goes for another three weeks, I think…
Great review of the MCA. It’s location is fabulous and it’s a wonderful venue to be inspired (& sometimes challenged) by contemporary artists.
ED, I found nearly every piece interesting! Just loved it!
Sydney’s a little bit awesome…love Biennale! Looks like you guys had a lovely time! :)
We did, darling, thank you! xx
I struggle with contemporary art; it just doesn’t touch an emotion in me.
That’s interesting, Cosmo. I’m the reverse! Contemporary art I adore, traditional stuff I find a bit dull and boring.
I do so love Modern Art! Some of it makes me laugh and some of it is so inspiring! :)
You and me both, love! :)
Fascinating stuff Celia. I love wandering around these sorts of galleries but I would have to check my husband in with the coats!
Hehehe…you’ll have to come down for a visit without him, Jan! :)
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Thank you for this museum tour! I loved that! My husband & I love going to museums! A lovely tour, Celia! :)
Thanks Sophie! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for sharing, I will be sure to tell my sister :)
Cool, I’m sure she’ll enjoy it, Tandy!
What a cool museum! Thanks for sharing the experience :)
Glad you enjoyed it, Tes!
I have never understood modern art – but I was once told by an artist that I was a piece of modern art! However, when he suggested that I volunteer to stand as an exhibit in his gallery, I said ‘No’. I’ve always wondered if he said that to everyone he met.
I doubt it, Doc, you’re unique! :D
My favorite is the Submarine Landcape.. I have a thing for anything Beach and the starfish scultpture was just stunning. I love spending a day at the museum.. I’ve got to do it more often! I’ve also got to travel to your beautiful country one day!! xx Smidge
Smidge, I have to get to Canada one of these days too! It always look so amazing!
Dear Celia,
Beautiful post and yes I am guilty of not being in there yet.
Although entry is free, I suspect we have already paid for it through our taxes, so better we go there more often.
Chopinand, I think you’d be surprised – much of the MCA is funded by private sponsorship. :)
lovely photos – just the sort of exhibition I would try to get to if it was in my own city – not sure when I will be in sydney next but if I get there any time in the future I will try and visit MCA
Johanna, it’s probably my favourite of all the major galleries and museums!