Six things to love about the MCA
The first thing I recall seeing at the MCA was a video of John Cage’s 4’33”, a three movement composition which instructs musicians not to play their instruments for the duration of the performance. So basically, it showed the London Symphony Orchestra, in front of a packed crowd, sit in silence, poised on the point of playing but ultimately doing nothing other than occasionally turning the page. For four minutes and thirty three seconds.
Not having ‘heard’ the piece before, I was enthralled. It was outrageous of course, but also a little bit clever. Predictably, when it was first performed, it had critics divided, some audiences delighted and others left scratching their heads. And so it is with many of the offerings at the MCA. There will be things here you like and others you loath, but there will usually be something here to make you smile.
1 Location, location, location
Nestled on Sydney’s doorstep opposite the Opera House at Circular Quay, the MCA is only a stone’s throw from The Rocks and close to many of Sydney’s top hotels, restaurants, theatres and shops. Views from the forecourt are impressive, but even better from the terrace.
What’s more, it’s free to enter, easily accessible and you can pop in briefly on your way to somewhere else, or while away a whole afternoon perusing the work of local and international artists, showcased over three levels.
2 The Permanent Collection
The MCA’s permanent collection includes over 4000 Australian artworks, with new acquisitions being added regularly.
The works are rotated and curated into themed exhibitions like the current Today Tomorrow Yesterday (until January 2021) and Connected (until May 2021). Some works like Stuart Ringholt’s Clock are featured continuously, but the revolving nature of the collection means that even if you’re a frequent visitor to the gallery, you’ll regularly discover something new.
The Artist Room on level 2 allows the gallery to feature various individual artists over time, showcasing their work and offering deeper insights into their unique practice.
The MCA Collection Online is a recent innovation and an evolving resource that will over time represent many more of the Museum’s collecting highlights.
3 Indigenous Collection
The MCA prides itself on its strong commitment to promoting the work of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, and herein lies its greatest drawcard to overseas tourists in particular. Commissioned, acquired and borrowed from communities far and wide, the indigenous collection showcases a wide-range of traditional and modern practice with art forms ranging from bark paintings to photography, ceremonial burial poles to video installation.
Highlights include The Ramingining and Maningrida Collections, both from artist communities in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. The Ramingining Collection includes approximately 257 works, bark paintings and wood-carved sculptural and functional objects, while The Maningrida Collection consists of approximately 600 works in fibre and other materials. The Maningrida Collection is held in trust for the people of Maningrida on a long-term basis under a unique cultural agreement.
A personal favourite piece and one I hope will get a rerun in the galleries soon, is Minyma Punu Kungkarangkalpa (Seven Sisters Tree Women), made by seven women of the Tjanpi Desert Weavers in 2013. The colourful, life-size figures are made of grass, raffia, fencing wire, feathers and wool, and tell the story of the Seven Sisters, an important songline in the central and western deserts.
4 Special Exhibitions
The gallery holds special exhibitions at regular intervals, featuring both Australian and international contemporary artists. Some recent highlights include exhibitions by local artists Lindy Lee (Until February 2021) and Janet Laurence (2018), and the oversized installations of British artist Cornelia Parker (2019), and Swiss surrealist, Pipilotti Rist (2018).
Other exhibitions like the Sydney Biennale and The National (2017, 2019 and 2021), advance collaborations between the MCA and other local galleries and allow a number of new and emerging artists to be featured alongside more established practitioners.
5 The MCA Cafe
Did I mention the view? The MCA cafe is on level 4 with seating inside and out offering postcard views of the city’s twin icons, the Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. The coffee is good here and the menu caters to most tastes. (My current favourite is the charred sweet potato and eggplant wrap - delicious!)
Graze on the ground floor, is another dining option. The menu and wine selection here is more suited to a long lunch and bookings are recommended.
6 The Museum Shop
Museum shops have come a long way in recent years and the MCA shop is more like an extension of the gallery itself than a tacky add-on. Naturally, there is a wide collection of art books with a particular emphasis on exhibited artists, but there is also a wide range of art-themed and other children’s books, games and puzzles as well as designer jewellery, scarves, handbags and homewares. If you’re after a unique gift, there are a lot of creative options here.
For current opening hours, exhibition and collection details visit the MCA online