The remaking of things

Gracia Haby & Louise Jennison
NGV commission for Melbourne Now 2023
The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia
Friday 24th March – Sunday 20th August, 2023

The doors to Melbourne Now are open, revealing our paper forest, The remaking of things. But before we look at what is, lets take a moment to look at those last steps in the gallery, just before the curtain went up on the 24th of March. In between feeding pups and joeys, we’ve greatly enjoyed the chance to sit in the space in its various states of dress, and figure out how red is a sunset and how loud is a sea eagle during the sound and lighting tests.

Thank-you to everyone who helped us with this tremendous install process, and to all the NGV staff who helped in the many, many months leading up to this. We couldn’t have done any of this without you. It has been a joy.

It has been wonderful to see ‘our’ restored eucalyptus forest habitat especially for the Grey-headed flying fox, collaged from 100 pieces in the collection of the NGV, enjoyed by those who have passed through so far. And lovely to catch sight of so many dear familiar faces and people we’d never met before living so happily within the space. It’s all been so magical, for us, seeing ideas made material. Thank-you.

Melbourne Now runs until the 20th August, 2023.

The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia
Fed Square, Melbourne
Entry to NGV Australia is free
Open daily 10am–5pm

In connection to our collage, The remaking of things, a new work commissioned by the National Gallery of Victoria for Melbourne Now, there are drawing and collage activities for all ages, and workshops as part of our Community Hall Artists-in-Residence for April. Coming up on the 22nd, we’ll be talking with Janine Duffy of the Koala Clancy Foundation and Lawrence Pope of Friends of Bats and Bushcare Inc., with environmental and science communication specialist Tanya Ha, should you be free. Or you might like to drop by the Draw Now activity and draw a spray of White Ironbark Gum (Eucalyptus leucoxylon, also known as yellow gum or blue gum) and Moreton Bay Fig (Ficus macrophylla), favourite food sources of the Grey-headed flying fox at this time of year. The White Ironbark is not in flower, but dried and sprayed with pyrethrum, as is the Moreton Bay Fig, for the protection of the artworks in the building.

HIGH UP IN THE TREES: KOALAS TO GREY-HEADED FLYING FOXES
Gracia and Louise invite environmental and science communication specialist, Tanya Ha to host a conversation with Janine Duffy, President of the Koala Clancy Foundation and Lawrence Pope, President of Friends of Bats and Bushcare Inc. to discuss the key issues relating to the care and preservation of wildlife in our communities, sharing their experiences, expertise and insights with audiences gathered in Community Hall.
Community Hall
Saturday 22nd April, 11am

MEET THE FANTASTIC GREY-HEADED FLYING FOX: DRAWING ACTIVITY
During April, drop by and take part in the Meet the Fantastic Grey-headed Flying Fox activity in Community Hall. This activity sheet introduces children to this Australian animal that has inspired Melbourne Now artists Gracia and Louise to create a large-scale collage about this creature’s habitat on the banks of the Birrarung (Yarra River). Children with their families can complete a drawing of the flying fox and learn about their importance when they take the quiz.  
Community Hall
Throughout April (please check the NGV site for dates and times)

UNDER 5S: GRACIA & LOUISE ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE
Under 5s, presented online engages children aged 2–5 years with art and artists’ ideas through lively talks and activities. During April, Under 5s introduces young children to the Grey-headed flying fox, an Australian animal that has inspired Community Hall’s Artists-in-Residence Gracia and Louise to create a large-scale collage about this creature’s habitat at Yarra Bend for the Melbourne Now exhibition. Kindergarten, playgroups, and children at home can learn about the artists and this incredible creature and then watch a demonstration of a collage activity that can be made at home or school using a printable activity sheet.
Online
April through May (please check the NGV site for dates and times)

NGV TEENS: DROP BY AND MAKE A ZINE WITH GRACIA AND LOUISE
Community Hall Artists-in-Residence Gracia and Louise collaborate to produce zines and artists’ books. These limited-edition publications frequently feature collage imagery sequenced alongside the artists’ poetry and stories. In this workshop for teens in the Community Hall, drop by and join Gracia and Louise as they discuss the role of the zine and create a zine using the artists’ templates and a variety of papers and ephemera.
Community Hall
Tuesday 18th – Thursday 20th April, 12pm–3pm

COMMUNITY HALL SCHOOL DROP-BY ACTIVITY: DRAW NOW
See through an artist’s eyes and discover a different perspective through drawing. Artists-in-Residence Gracia and Louise have selected some of the favourite plants of the Grey-headed flying fox for visitors to sketch.
Community Hall
Tuesday – Thursday, 10am–3pm (please check the NGV site for dates and times)

SCHOOL HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS: WARRIORS FOR WILDLIFE
Melbourne Now artists, Gracia and Louise look after wildlife in their home and work with Warriors 4 Wildlife, a registered charity dedicated to the rescue and transport of sick, injured, orphaned or abandoned wildlife. This school holiday workshop for children and their families, led by the fantastic team of volunteers from Warriors 4 Wildlife will focus on the organisation’s work through lively talks, story-telling and making activities.
Community Hall
Tuesday 11th – Friday 14th April, 10am–1pm

NO TREE! NO ME!: TIM PEARSON
Have you ever wondered about the fruit bats hanging in their thousands in the trees at Yarra Bend? Or the bats you see as a silhouette in the sky? In spite of what some people might believe, these bats aren’t threatening or dangerous — in fact, they’re a crucial part of the Australian environment. Wildlife ecologist Tim Pearson presents an entertaining and engaging talk about these misunderstood mammals, where audiences find out why they’re important, how to live alongside them and what the real risks are of not having them around.
Community Hall
Saturday 15th April, 11am

TEACHER MASTERCLASS WITH GRACIA & LOUISE
Take a deep dive into Melbourne Now and find new ways to incorporate contemporary art into your teaching and learning. Join featured artists Gracia Haby and Louise Jennison in front of their work, The remaking of things 2023, where they will share insights into their creative practice, their roles as wildlife carers and the messages and themes represented in their work. Find further inspiration for the classroom in an exclusive practical workshop with Gracia and Louise, exploring their creative collage techniques and zine-making process.
Community Hall
Saturday 29th April, 9.30am–4pm

REMAKING HOME
The remaking of things, 2023, a new work commissioned for Melbourne Now, is Gracia and Louise’s largest installation to date. On level two of The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, a large-scale collage drawn from 100 works in the NGV Collection adorns the walls from ceiling to floor. The scene depicts a pocket of restored eucalyptus forest habitat, constructed using a series of images drawn from the NGV Collection. A combination of digital collage on paper and foil stock, The remaking of things builds on the methods explored in the pair’s recent work, Ripples in the open, 2018–19, with cyclic sound and lighting design signalling gradual transitions from morning to night — and back again — in the world represented on the walls. The outcome is a message of the importance of restored habitat, in particular for the Grey-headed flying fox on the banks of the Birrarung. An interactive collage activity created by the artists especially for gallery visitors will be in the centre of the room.

Remaking Home instruction sheet PDF
Remaking Home base card PDF
Remaking Home collage page PDF

The remaking of things, level two
Until Sunday 20th August, 10am–4pm

SCHOOL HOLIDAY FUN WITH NGV COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS | 与NGV社区大使欢度学校假期
Come and meet NGV Community Ambassadors and participate in Mandarin and English art-making sessions in Remaking Home by artists Gracia and Louise. Learn about the Grey-headed flying foxes and what makes them so special. Make a collage and explore Melbourne Now to discover more art along the way together.
Meet: Ground Level
Throughout April (please check the NGV site for dates and times)

From megabats to microbats, thank-you all.

Image credit: Gracia Haby & Louise Jennison, The remaking of things (detail), 2022–2023, especially for Melbourne Now. In the section above you can see John Lewin’s Three-toe King-fisher (now known as an Azure kingfisher).