Fashion Detective and Mid-Century Modern

There are a couple great exhibitions currently on at the NGV Australia in Federation Square.  Ruth and I first checked out Fashion Detective, which explores the origins of 60 unidentified garments and accessories from the Victorian era within the NGV archives.  The purpose of the exhibition is to explore the clues in a garment that can be found through x-rays (to see how they are constructed) or analysis of the colors and dyes used in fabrics to try and tell a story about their origins.  Crime writers have even been commissioned to create short stories based on some of the displays.  There are some great pieces in there, including a wrap made from platypus pelts!  Fashion Detective is on until 31 August and it's free to explore.

Next we met up with Ruth's friends Heather, Inge and Toby to see the Mid-Century Modern exhibition, which covers Australian furniture design from the 1950s - early 1970s.  It includes more than 100 furniture pieces, photos and home magazines featuring the work of popular designers of the era such as Grant Featherston, Clement Meadmore, Douglas Snelling, Gordon Andrews, Fred Lowen, Lester Bunbury and Schulim Krimperas.  The modern interior vignettes displayed how pieces would be put together in a room and demonstrate the evolving style through the years.  It was such a great opportunity to see these pieces up close and learn how they were crafted.  Mid-Century Modern runs until 19 October and with only a $10 entry fee is an absolute bargain.