NGV International | Saturday 30 November 2019 | Tickets on sale now
November 2019: Iconic international hip-hop/rap group Salt-N-Pepa will headline the third annual NGV Gala on Saturday 30 November 2019 which coincides with the opening of the world-premiere exhibition Keith Haring | Jean-Michel Basquiat: Crossing Lines.
The duo who hail from New York have sold more than 15 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling hip-hop/rap acts of all time. In an Australian exclusive appearance, the group will perform their hit songs “Push It”, “Let’s Talk About Sex”, “Shoop” and “Whatta Man”.
This year, the NGV Gala will also feature a Caribbean inspired food menu by internationally acclaimed Momofuku Seiōbo chef and winner of the 2020 Gourmet Traveller Restaurant and Chef of the Year, Paul Carmichael.
Guests will also be able to enjoy bespoke cocktails in an immersive 1980s New York nightclub-style experience in The Bombay Sapphire Gin Room, as well as entertainment from leading drag queen and king performers including Art Simone, and 1980s inspired sets by international and local DJ’s including New York’s Ge-Ology and Melbourne’s own YO! MAFIA
Salt-N-Pepa
Salt-N-Pepa made history in the 1980s as the first female rap act to hit the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. Their success in rap and hip-hop culture transformed the way the music world saw women, earning the group the honorific title “The First Ladies of Rap and Hip Hop.”
The group won the 1995 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for their song “None Of Your Business”, making them one of the first female rap acts to win a Grammy Award, catapulting hip-hop to a new level.
Tony Ellwood AM, Director, NGV said, ‘We are delighted to announce that Salt-N-Pepa will perform at this year’s NGV Gala. Salt-N-Pepa are one of the most influential hip-hop/rap groups of their time and this performance will be a great complement to this year’s summer blockbuster exhibition Keith Haring | Jean-Michel Basquiat: Crossing Lines.’
Salt-N-Pepa said, ‘We are thrilled and honoured to be performing at Australia’s most iconic art museum to bring to life the magic and creativity of 1980s New York and celebrate two of the most extraordinary artists of the 20th century.”
“We encounter so many people who say they long to hear and see us again in concert,” said Salt. “People really miss seeing us out there. They come up to us and mention that our music touched them, brings back so many great memories for them and helped them just see life differently.”
Entertainment
Australia’s premier drag performers including Benign Girl, Lazy Susan & Zelda Moon of The Beastie Girls, D. Flowers, Nefertiti LaNegra and Randy Roy will be entertaining dinner guests with live performances throughout the evening. Celebrated for their creativity and originality, there is no doubt they will bring together the worlds of music, fashion art and theatrics in a truly spectacular fashion.
DJ Ge-Ology and YO! MAFIA have selected their favourite 80s music styles to incorporate into their performances throughout the evening.
Paul Carmichael Menu
Executive chef of acclaimed restaurant Momofuku Seiōbo and recent 2020 Gourmet Traveller Restaurant and Chef of the Year winner, Paul Carmichael will deliver an exciting menu for this year’s NGV Gala, honouring his Caribbean heritage, New York style and the best of local Australian produce.
Paul Carmichael has worked in many exciting restaurants around the world including wd~50, Aquavit & the Tasting Room in New York City and Perla restaurant in Puerto Rico.
Paul Carmichael said ‘Having worked in New York for so many years, it will forever hold a special place in my heart and it feels so good to be participating in the NGV Gala 2019 because I am a fan of both artists. This event will be a blast.’
The Bombay Sapphire Gin Room
Bombay Sapphire will take over the NGV Garden Restaurant, with The Bombay Sapphire Gin Room, a late-night den for cocktails and performance. The space will be hosted by Art Simone, the current reigning ‘Drag Queen of Australia’ who will provide guests with an unforgettable experience. Bombay Sapphire will be serving classic gin and tonics, negronis and 80s-inspired cocktails from a shimmering outdoor bar.
Guests will also enjoy wines from Yering Station, the home of Victoria’s first vineyard, champagne at the Pommery Champagne Bar and beers by Asahi.
About Keith Haring | Jean-Michel Basquiat: Crossing Lines
Held on Saturday 30 November 2019 at NGV International, the NGV Gala will coincide with the opening of the unprecedented world-premiere exhibition of Keith Haring | Jean-Michel Basquiat: Crossing Lines. Through over 200 works, the exhibition presents an overview of each artist’s extraordinarily productive yet tragically short career, from ephemeral pieces that capture the zeitgeist of early ‘80s New York, to collaborative works and objects, collages and notebooks that reveal some of their working method and inspiration, through to the major paintings that led to their phenomenal success within their lifetimes, and recognition today of Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring as two of the most significant artists of the late 20th century.
Tickets to the NGV Gala are on sale now from NGV.MELBOURNE
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