Reviews on Inside Out Upside Down Gallery Site
National Portrait Gallery
Canberra, AustraliaNote that this review was written in late 2009, a new review will be produced early 2011 as the comments on surrounding buildings etc will have changed.
This building completed in 2008 houses a collection of works that cover the period of European colonisation of the Australian continent, as well as representative items of the pre-European inhabitants. The collection presents a vivid and sometimes disturbing picture of the people that Australians consider sufficiently important to be presented in the National collection. Much of the collection, if considered as art, is of mediocre or even poor quality but this is not an art gallery in presentation or feel, unless we take into account the most recent video work and some of the complete failures of recent portraites.
Prior to the move to this location within a short walk of the High Court and the National Gallery the collection was housed in ad-hoc accommodation. The purpose built portrait gallery is unassuming in scale and presence amongst its imposing neighbours. With large scale repair and extension work being undertaken on the two adjoining sites the NPG virtually disappeared when being approached (in late 2008).
For those intending to park in the gallery visitor parking, it can be hard to find and is quite limited. The reviewer visited on a week day and then on the weekend. During the week there was no difficulty in finding a parking spot under the gallery. On the week end he had to park some two hundred meters away at the National Library car park. The walk from this distant parking spot was quite delightful, being a broad walk along the lake in dappled shade. It is however recommended that less mobile visitors avoid visiting on the weekend if possible.
Access to the building is either through the front entrance way or via the Visitors parking area under the gallery. If you approach the gallery from other than the front, you may find it hard to locate the signage to locate the building, take a map of Canberra with you (just make sure it is a new one with the Gallery marked on it). Internal signage in the car park is a touch less than helpful, the reviewer assisted two people to find the lift to the main level.
Despite the apparent disorder of the exterior arrangements when you get inside the welcome is very friendly and inviting. An assistant offers a map of the internal galleries and directs you to the Introductory space.
Armed with the map, which it is recommended you at least glance at, you will be able to navigate the collection quite easily. The gallery is all on one level, divided into a number of gallery spaces running of a central corridor. Some of the hangings are effectively at the doorways between gallery spaces and are therefore difficult to view, particularly if you want to read the notes on the individual.
Some recent additions seem to be exceptionally poor
The portraits are presented with attendant notes on the individual represented but in general no information on the artist that created the work other than their name. This was quite a good point in the presentation as my first instinct is always to want to know something about the artist, which defeats the purpose of a portrait.
Lighting in this building is excellent. Paintings are hung at a level that present no difficulty for most people when standing and there are no multi level hangings. Wheel chair users may find the images a little high but there appeared to be little glare when the pictures were viewed from a position looking upwards.
A pleasant cafe in the Gallery building, provides the opportunity to eat outdoors or in the airy interior. The book come gift shop is well stocked with interesting publications and a selection of items that will provide the avid shopper with interesting choices.
This is definitely a recommended gallery, worth a visit when ever you are in Canberra.
author: Neil Miley