The National Gallery of Victoria has announced a new series of major commissions that will showcase significant work of internationally renowned female designers and architects.
The five-year series, made possible through a significant contribution from cosmetics retailer Mecca, aims to champions and elevate women in art and design.
The gallery made the announcement on International Women’s Day in 2022 and also revealed Mexican architect Tatiana Bilbao has been commissioned for the inaugural exhibition, which will be be unveiled in September. The gallery intends to reveal commissioned designers each year coinciding with International Women’s Day.
“Tatiana Bilbao’s is a compelling voice from outside of the traditional canon of architecture, offering a unique perspective on both its history and its future. A woman from North America, an advocate and a spokesperson for change, Bilbao creates work that is as intellectually rigorous as it is visually dynamic,” said Tony Ellwood, director of the NGV.
Bilbao established Tatiana Bilbao Studio in 2004, based in Mexico City. Her work spans a number of typologies from institutional to residential and low-cost housing, as well as urban planning and landscape design. She has been an advisor in the Ministry of Development and Housing of the Government of the Federal District of Mexico City.
Her studio focuses on challenging historical conventions and making spaces more inclusive and people-oriented. She often collaborates with other architects, artists, communities, as well as business people to enrich the culture and built landscape of Mexico.
She presented at the 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale and her has also been collected by the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the Art Institute of Chicago.
Collage by Tatiana Bilbao.
Bilbao often uses collage, drawing and model-making in her work and her commission for the NGV will create a large-scale installation that will combine textiles and architectural structure.
“I am deeply honoured and grateful to have been chosen for the Women in Design Commission by the NGV and Mecca. This is contributing in many ways to advance the discourse of the importance of opening channels for people that have been left out of opportunities. When chosen, I took this responsibility very seriously and I am truly thankful for the opportunity.”
The Mecca x NGV Women in Design Commission will provide a platform for topical and world-premiere works. “The ongoing Women in Design Commission will highlight the ground-breaking work of women in this field from Australia and around the world, as well as strengthening the NGV Collection for future generations,” Ellwood said.
The contribution from Mecca is the biggest the company has made to any Australian cultural institution.
The 2022 Mecca x NGV Women in Design Commission will open in September 2022 and close in March 2023.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
