Contemporary encounters

A selection of works from the Victorian Foundation for Living Australian Artists

The works acquired through the Victorian Foundation for Living Australian Artists demonstrate the creative vigour and profound sensibilities of contemporary artists working in Australia today. Reflecting on the often confounding nature of human existence and the complex cultural, artistic, social and political mores of our times, contemporary artists are at the vanguard of current thought and inquiry. In challenging and compelling ways Contemporary encounters presents a broad spectrum of artists working in a diverse range of media including painting, sculpture, installation, photography, prints and drawings, video and multimedia. Works collide, repel, fuse and coalesce, revealing each artist’s unique engagement with the prevailing issues of contemporary life and artistic practice. Poetic, experimental, enigmatic, and sometimes ordinary, each work resonates in unexpected ways for contemporary audiences. Drawn entirely from the National Gallery of Victoria’s collection, Contemporary encounters presents a stimulating survey of the NGV’s recent acquisitions by artists from across generations and from a broad range of social and cultural backgrounds.