The Andrews Labor Government is backing another spectacular exhibition at ACMI, with the world premiere of Goddess set to celebrate iconic women who have influenced screen culture next year.
Offering visitors a deep dive into complex and changing representations of women in film from the silent era to today, the new exhibition is the latest installment of the Labor Government’s Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series and will include artists from Marilyn Monroe to Halle Berry and Australia’s Margot Robbie.
Goddess will feature never-before-seen costumes, cinematic footage, immersive video works and more than 150 objects, props and sketches from a broad catalogue of films from Hollywood, Bollywood, Japan, China and beyond.
Film buffs will get up close to the sky-high heels Mae West wore in Belle of the Nineties (1934), Michelle Yeoh's fight-ready silks from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) and much more.
With a focus on women who have challenged the status quo, this landmark exhibition will also take audiences behind the lens to explore gender re-defining moments from Marlene Dietrich in Morocco (1930), Tilda Swinton in Orlando (1992) and Pam Grier’s boundary breaking Blaxploitation film career.
The long-running Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series is a drawcard for Victorian culture lovers and visitors alike, bringing much-admired collections from galleries and museums from across the globe to Melbourne.
Previous ACMI hits include Disney: The Magic of Animation, Wonderland, DreamWorks Animation: The Exhibition, David Bowie Is..., and the current exhibition Light: Works from Tate’s Collection.
Goddess opens at ACMI on Wednesday 5 April 2023 before touring overseas and will be complemented by a dynamic events program, including late-night exhibition access, performances, talks and film screenings.
Program details will be announced in February 2023 when tickets go on sale. For more information visit acmi.net.au
Quotes attributable to Minister for Creative Industries Steve Dimopoulos
“We’re backing another world premiere, Australian-exclusive for Melbourne, with ACMI’s latest exhibition Goddess to celebrate game-changing women of the screen.”
“Winter in Victoria already brings a spectacular offering of events and activities, with this latest addition drawing more visitors to discover everything there is to love about Melbourne.”
Reviewed 13 December 2022