Van Gogh Exhibition at NGV Melbourne

The Van Gogh exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria has the record of the best selling exhibition in the whole of Australia. This is not surprising seeing the lines that snake around the hall to the ticket booth and back again towards the entrance of the exhibition each day. 

Last weekend, we waited nearly two hours to get into the exhibition. It was dizzying, not to mention the crowd in the exhibition. It was an hour to queue up to the get the tickets and another to get into the exhibition. 

I was undecided whether or not the exhibition was worth the two hour queue...  As we entered the exhibition, there was a big screen of information on the artist. It was informational and provided a good feel to how the paintings in the exhibition were arranged - according to nature's seasons.

In the first section, there were quite a number of unrelated paintings, sketches and art block works that served as inspiration to the artist but not actually painted byVan Gogh. Most of us skipped past these stocking fillers and went straight to the Christmas present.. In Winter, most paintings were brown, sombre, of wheatfields and peasants. Slowly, as we progressed through the seasons, and Van Gogh accepted the idea of lightening his palate in line with the rest of the Impressionists of the time, the paintings became brighter.

I felt that many of the paintings in this exhibition were of his earlier works when he was still experimenting and finding his own style. Not many of his signature style paintings like Starry Night appeared in the exhibition. So, both Gaz and I were felt a little let down.

The exhibition has another 11 days to run to the 12 July. For those who wish to beat the queue, consider pre purchasing the tickets online ($4.50 transaction fee applies) but you would still have to queue up to enter the exhibition. NGV members get express entry so if you are one, then flaunt it! There is the opportunity to join as member on the day but you would still have to queue up to join and buy tickets plus paying some $90 extra per couple... If you were going to the exhibition with a friend, you could queue up for the tickets and join your friend in the entry queue once you've got the tickets. Could save you some time if you are really keen...