On Dec. 1, Academy Award winner Natalie Portman brought Hollywood glamour to the National Gallery of Victoria’s prestigious annual Gala, which celebrated the opening of Escher X Nendo: Between Two Worlds Exhibition. Her visit coincides with a new report that revealed 43 percent of international visitors in 2017 including arts in their Australian itinerary.
The National Gallery of Victoria offers multiple event spaces: the Great Hall for Gala dinners (600 seated) or cocktail functions (1,100 guests), the Adjacent Federation Court caters for cocktail functions (500 guests), and the Garden Restaurant and Clemenger Auditorium is frequently used for seminars, symposium and film screenings (250 guests).
At the event Portman said, “It is really exciting to be here at the National Gallery of Victoria Gala to celebrate Melbourne’s art. I would describe Melbourne as an incredible city. It has got so much culture, you can have a real city experience, see great art, eat great food and you can also have this unbelievable nature experience. It’s so magical.”
In addition to visiting the fairy penguins at Phillip Island, the actress spent last week in Byron Bay, the hometown of her Thor co-star, Chris Hemsworth, before flying to Melbourne where she had a chance to interact with Australia’s most loved wildlife at Healesville Sanctuary. “I am in love with Australia and having the best time being here,” said Portman. “The people are so lovely, the nature is breathtaking and the culture is astonishing.”
Escher X Nendo is a groundbreaking exhibition that features the work of Dutch artist M. C. Escher in dialogue with the work of acclaimed Japanese design studio Nendo. For more info, visit https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/exhibition/escher-x-nendo-between-two-worlds/#about
