- Published:
- Wednesday 13 January 2016
The National Gallery of Victoria’s ground-breaking Andy Warhol | Ai Weiwei exhibition has attracted more than 94,700 visitors in its first month, making it the gallery’s fastest-selling exhibition for more than a decade.
The world-first exhibition, developed by the NGV and The Warhol Museum with leading Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, has seen crowds flock from all over Victoria, interstate and overseas since opening in December. It’s also shaping up to be the gallery’s most popular paid summer exhibition ever.
To accommodate the bumper crowds, the exhibition will remain open until 8pm every day throughout January.
The exhibition features more than 300 works by two of the most significant artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, America’s Andy Warhol and China’s Ai Weiwei. It focuses on the parallels and intersections between the two artists, their interests, inspiration and work.
It showcases major new commissions, including Ai Weiwei’s Forever bicycles series composed of nearly 1500 bicycles, as well as paintings, sculpture, film, photography and immersive installations.
The exhibition also features a dedicated interactive gallery for children that celebrates the artists’ mutual love of cats. More than 25,000 people have already created a video self-portrait inspired by Andy Warhol’s silkscreen portraits, just one of the family friendly activities on offer.
Andy Warhol | Ai Weiwei is open daily at NGV International until April 24 2016. Throughout January it will be open from 10am–8pm. The special Friday Nights at NGV program runs from 6–10pm on Fridays, with live music performances. Tickets are available from ngv.vic.gov.au
Quotes attributable to the Acting Minister for Creative Industries Jenny Mikakos
"Andy Warhol | Ai Weiwei is a bold, exciting world-first exhibition that is capturing the imagination and interest of people of all ages. The Andrews Labor Government is proud to support this latest triumph by the NGV, Australia’s most visited art gallery.”
“This extraordinary response, in just one month, is a testament to the vision and world-leading work of our NGV and the resonance of the work of two of the leading artists of our times.”
Quotes attributable to NGV Director Tony Ellwood
“The exhibition explores life, culture and politics through the eyes of two exemplary figures of modern and contemporary art, who have both made important contributions in representing modern society through their work.”
“Over the coming months we look forward to seeing many more people enjoy the work of Andy Warhol and Ai Weiwei, and we are especially pleased to welcome visitors throughout January for extended late night opening hours until 8pm.”