There's a fair bit of abstract stuff, some 'optical paintings' (such as those of Bridget Riley [left], which I particularly liked), a lot of pop-art (colourful and sometimes - though not always - kitsch) and related streams, sculptures, recreations of installations, photographs (Vietnam War, Beatles, Jean Shrimpton (gosh she was a beauty), Mick Jagger, Rudolph Nureyev, and other such iconic figures), a jukebox room in which a Wurlitzer played 60s hits (for some reason, "Delilah" kept coming up), and quite a bit of archival material (videos, written documentation, etc - my favourite of these is the fabulously weird footage of Yoko Ono doing a 'performance' in which she sat on stage, deadpan, as members of the audience took it in turn to come up and cut bits of her dress off).
A few which particularly stood out (I took notes!), apart from those which I've already mentioned:* Robyn Denny - "Golem 1 (Rout of San Romano)". Very striking, brightly coloured, large (in fact many of these works are particularly large). Bits of corrugated cardboard and various collaging effects happening, painted over in vivid colours. In some odd way, reminded me of Picasso's "Guernica" - the same kind of riot of overlapping curves and angles, and I think the composition may've been somewhat similar, too.
* Richard Hamilton - "Interior II". Neat collage-type thing, combined with actual painting.
* Michael Andrews - "All Night Long". More of a traditional oil painting, depicting a decadent-looking party, sophisticates, artistes and beautiful people living it up while looking vaguely haunted. Appealed to me muchly.
* Allen Jones - "Man Woman" [above]. Colourful, playful and oddly sensuous.
* Phillip King - "Tra, La, La". Plastic sculpture in eggshell blue and pale pink, probably about 10 feet high, three segments topped by a twisty sort of thing. Not sure why I liked it so - may've just been the colours.
A fun collection - moving through the rooms feels like an exploration because of the diversity of types of works, and all the colours, textures and three-dimensionality keep things interesting (I dug the recreation of David Medalla's bubble sculpture, "Cloud Canyons"!). Neat!
* * *
[*] Though some time was spent talking with a (presumably bored) security guard about art and life, putting paid to my theory that they only come up and start talking to pretty girls (because, y'know, invariably my visits to the NGV are either en seul or with some pretty girl or other on my arm...).
