The face of Melbourne: Art and Architecture

the building photographed in the image captures my eyes with its unique colour scheme around the building. the uniqueness of ita vibrnt colours makes it stand out from other buildings around it. it is one of the largest buildings residing in melbourne. i shot this image with camera in hand using the avaible light and shot it in way to make it seem like a menacing sky-scraper like figure.

Melbourne, a small costal city in the South-east of Australia, a place filled with life and culture. What makes Melbourne different from other Australian cities is its unique affinity with art culture. From the surrounding suburbs to the skyscraping city, Melbourne is a place that talks about art and the expression of art. Be it through the performance of music, or through paintings or photography, we are surrounded by Art.

However even though this is what a majority see Melbourne as, we still can’t see how it became this way. When we think of cities we think of tall, sky-high towers parading all over the sky. It’s because of these building’s that a city makes us feel this way, we are forever being influenced by our surroundings.

What I think is special about Melbourne is the artistry in the architecture and everything around it, the atmosphere that it puts you in. also not just the artistry of the exterior but also the interior design and the space within. Places such as this are the NGV, ACMI, the Ian Potter Centre, and the CCP. These buildings shape their interior to the objects showcase within them to create the perfect atmosphere to be for people to be in.

This shows that Art culture is a key component into the type of place that Melbourne is and what Melbourne will become. The mood that we feel from the surrounding architecture mixed with the growing artistry of Melbourne is what makes it special from other Australian cities, some could say, it’s the face of Melbourne.

the figure shown is a large rectagular shaped building known as the RMIT Design hub, located at the corner of victoria street and swanston street. the building itself is part of the RMIT univercity, city campus is known for its unique architectural design. I photographed this with camera in hand and only using ambient lighting and tried to capture it in a unique way that made it look more than it seemed to be. inside the NGV, as part of the ‘Turning Points’ gallery, Chinese photographer Cang Xin has his works displayed at the forfront of the gallery. the images themselve link back to his home in a ritualistic performance that has him lick objects that have a symbolic resonance with him. I photographed this photo with the camera in hand and with the use of avaible lighting.

the Arts centre melbourne. the Art Centre houses many forms of art and entertainment and is currently exhibiting shows like ‘Amanda Palmers: there will be no intermission’ and ‘Gender Euphoria’. I photographed this photo with the camera in hand and only used the ambient light. I tried to avoid all the little distractions around the image.

these images, although part of the NGV’s ‘Turning Point’ gallery are photographs from chinese artist, Sheng Qi’s ‘Memories’ series. the series is self portrature using his own disfigured hand as the subject along with small photographs that juxtapose his past and present. i use of isolating theworks in a small hall makes the peices pop out more and gives them a sense of being of importance in the room. The Arts Centre Melbourne photographed from a closer up angle as to show case a unique view of the outer structure.

this painting is one of many held within the great halls of large framed paintings in the NGV. the lone women along with the surroundings creates a somewhat obscure scene, as if there is a connection happening between the women and the painting. I photographed this photo using only the avaible lighting and a very slow shutter speed. I photographed this photo using only the avaible lighting and a very slow shutter speed. inbetween the ground and first floor, this is the first art piece that people see on thier way towards the galleries up stairs. the figure itself works very cohesively with the shape of the architecture around it and sets the scene for gallery that it is apart of. I photographed this photo with camera in hand and only using avaible lighting.

a set peice residing in the 19th century european gallery in the second floor of the NGV. i chose to photograph this set to showcase the viariety of art and culture held within the NGV.

the photograph shown in the image is the largest printed photograph in the Patrina Hicks gallery at the Ian Potter Centre. the photograph is part of her ‘Bleached Gothic’ series known for its obscure duality and its talk’s on how the photographic language works. The desaturation of the room works well with the tones of the image to creat a atmosphere that sets the mood for the gallery. I photographed this photo with camera in hand and only using avaible lighting. While walking through hosier lane, if one were to look up higher they would be able to see the large painting on the face on one of the buildings. i see this as perfect example of how art is forever expanding, the colours and tones blend perfectly with the architecture almost like they’re working hand in hand. I photographed this image using the ambient light.

a random building within the city of melbourne that i chose to photograph due to how i liked its unique architecture. for me the building has a sort of solidaritry and lonely mood, almost like the building is cold itself. I photographed this photo with camera in hand and only using avaible lighting. A car park located towards the more eastern side of melbourne city. i chose this image due to it aesthetic repititiveness and the colour of it that differs from its surrounding buildings. I photographed this photo with camera in hand and only using avaible lighting.

a building that i photographed due to its unique use of the white and blue. i thought of this building to be a combination of what it looks like for architecture to be heavily influenced by art. I photographed this photo using the ambient lighting and a long shutter speed.