Melbourne, Australia – The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) has unveiled “This is air,” a 14-metre-tall inflatable art installation in its garden. Designed by Nic Brunsdon and Eness, the installation is part of the 2023 edition of the NGV’s annual architecture commission, which invites architect-led teams to create a temporary site-specific work.
According to TourismAfrica2006, the 2023 commission’s design competition, aligned with the themes of the NGV Triennial: Magic, Matter, and Memory, saw Brunsdon’s winning entry focusing on the theme of “matter” by conceptually capturing air, one of Earth’s most universal and primal elements. The installation uniquely uses air as a building material to give form to the invisible. Brunsdon, speaking about the artwork, highlighted air’s significance as a life-giving yet potentially harmful element, especially considering the recent pandemic’s focus on respiratory health.
“This is air” comprises an inner and outer sphere made from recycled PVC, stabilized by a water ballast. Brunsdon describes the installation as having three states: a fully inflated “hold” state, an exhalation state, and an inhalation state, symbolizing the capture, holding, and redistribution of air.
The sphere also makes a nod to The Fox: NGV Contemporary, designed by Angelo Candalepas and Associates, particularly referencing the giant oculus planned for the main hall of the proposed building.
Ewan McEoin, senior curator of contemporary art, design, and architecture at NGV, reflected on the deeper significance of air in the context of global economic, social, and ecological realities. He noted the disparity in air quality experienced by people based on their geographic and social circumstances.
Colin Brooks, Victorian Minister for Creative Industries, praised the artwork for its ability to “breathe life and creativity” into the NGV Garden, anticipating that it will delight and inspire visitors of all ages.
“This is air” will be on display at NGV International until June 2024, offering a visually striking and conceptually profound exploration of air as a vital yet often overlooked element of our environment.