Presented as part of the 2023 NGV Triennial, Megacities is an NGV-commissioned presentation that invited ten leading photographers to capture the urban environment of ten global megacities – cities with a population exceeding 10 million. These include Cairo, Delhi, Dhaka, Jakarta, Lagos, Mexico City, São Paulo, Seoul, Shanghai and Tokyo.
Featuring more than 500 images by ten acclaimed photographers, Megacities offers a thought-provoking reflection on the urban environment, which, for the first time in human history, is the predominant habitat for humanity.
The photographers featured in the exhibition are: Mas Agung Wilis Yudha Baskoro (Jakarta, Indonesia), Yagazie Emezi (Lagos, Nigeria), Hana Gamal (Cairo, Egypt), Mikiko Hara (Tokyo, Japan), Saumya Khandelwhal (Delhi, India), Gustavo Minas (São Paulo, Brazil), Chen Ronghui (Shanghai, China), Francisco Mata Rosas (Mexico City, Mexico), Farhana Satu (Dhaka, Bangladesh), and JT White (Seoul, South Korea). The practices of the participating photographers range in style and discipline across street photography, photojournalism, documentary photography and creatives practices.
The newly commissioned works reflect the varied experience of living in these environments, including scenes of mass transit in Seoul, Cairo streets after dark, the vibrancy of Lagos and quiet moments of reflection in Tokyo. These never-before-seen images will be curated to reflect the idiosyncrasies and diversity of each city, but also the narrative threads and themes that connect each city.
The photographers’ work will be displayed in a dynamic and immersive environment designed by the NGV. Across 19 double-sided and suspended screens, the exhibition design will allow visitors to be fully surrounded by the images on display and transported into the world of each megacity. Contemporary sound from each megacity, including music and location recordings, will also resonate throughout the gallery space, creating a multi-sensory experience for visitors.
Tony Ellwood AM, Director, NGV, said: ‘Megacities offers a fascinating insight into the genre of photography that focuses on the built environment, as well as the behaviour, activity and experiences of urban populations. Through the work of ten leading photographers, Megacities offers an insightful – and sometimes confronting – account of contemporary life today.’
NGV Triennial 2023 is a powerful and moving snapshot of the world today as captured through the work of more than 120 artists, designers and collectives at the forefront of global contemporary practice, including Tracey Emin, David Shrigley, Yoko Ono and couture house Schiaparelli. Bringing contemporary art, design and architecture into dialogue with one another and traversing all four levels of NGV International, the NGV Triennial features nearly 100 extraordinary projects that invite us to reflect on the world as it is, while also asking how we would like it to be.
The NGV warmly thanks the Orloff Family Charitable Trust, and Barry Janes and Paul Cross for their generous support.
Megacities is on display as part of the NGV Triennial from 3 December 2023 – 7 April 2024 at NGV International on St Kilda Road, Melbourne. Entry is FREE. Further information is available via the NGV website: NGV.MELBOURNE
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