Art Gallery of South Australia

I do love popping into an art gallery. Not that I know all that much about art really. Although I am slowly learning. They're typically beautiful spaces, and you get to see such interesting things, whether you like them or not is a whole other matter. Like at MONA last year.

The Art Gallery of South Australia is no exception. Indeed, it has more than a few things going for it. Totally free. Lovely staff and volunteers, and the insight to realise that taking photos in there isn't a burden. They're completely happy with non-flash photography.

I still haven't learnt to use these things
I must do it. I missed out on the audio tour!

The gallery has multiple rooms. To the right of the entrance desk is the Elder Wing of Australian Art. It's lovely. Much of it feels a bit like the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Lots of classic elegance. Quite European gallery in feel actually. 

I was excited to recognise the Sydney Longs in the corner.
(We saw an amazing Sydney Long exhibition in Canberra last year)

And Hans Heysen

They blend the Aboriginal art within the main section of the gallery.
I really liked that. 

Out the back of the first floor is a beautiful room showcasing Ernabella Batiks. It's an amazing space and feels quite spiritual.

My favourite batik. 

The other half of the main floor is the Melrose Wing of European Art (newly refurbished this year). It's quite different in there. Quite. Themed rooms. 

Even I had worked out the death theme here.
Memento mori.  

Every room holds a fascinating mix of different types of art works.

An amazing work that photographs really badly.
Too much detail to take in, this but a mere glimpse.
Swings and roundabouts for the children?Yes? No. Pigface. 
Jake Chapman. Dinos Chapman, 2011

The Seduced Room
That's a hell of a wallpaper.

This is so very cool, but I have no idea what it's about.
Twin subjecter
Thomas Hirschhorn, 2011

Present Realities Room.
Representing landscapes. 

It was all starting to feel a bit MONA. Which is not necessarily a bad thing. Until this room. When suddenly it was very MONA. Not surprisingly this has been controversial. 

We are all flesh.
Berlinde De Bruyckere, 2011-12
Her work at MONA seems suddenly quite tame.

A room rather bizarrely titled The Human Condition. 

I can see how large portraits of George III juxtaposed with a statue titled The Negress have something to say about The Human Condition. But two headless horse skins pushed together? No sorry, I don't get it. Ok, so it's called We are all flesh. But I don't think you should need the title to finally make sense of a work of art. 

There are many more rooms downstairs. Decorative arts, and a range of Asian Arts. A whole room featuring William Morris.  The piece I loved best were the Adelaide Tiffany Windows. I'd never heard of these before. Of course I've heard of Tiffany windows before, and have long admired Louis Comfort Tiffany's work. I've seen some on visits to America. I'd never heard of the Adelaide Windows though. 

Naturally they're astonishing

And tell such a sad story. Commissioned to commemorate the grief of a wife and mother. Ada Ayers (daughter in law of Henry Ayers, five time Premier of South Australia, now possibly best remembered via Ayers Rock/Uluru), was widowed and six of her children had died. 

Six cherubs commemorating the six lost children.

Typically beautiful Tiffany colours. 

Whenever you find yourself in Adelaide with a little time to spare it's really worth a visit. 

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