MoMA at NGV: 130 Years of Modern and Contemporary Art is a breathtaking cross section of the MoMA collection across 230 artworks.

When: 9 June – 7 October 2018

Where: Ground Floor, NGV International, St Kilda Road MELBOURNE

Cost: adults $28, child $10, family (2 adults, 3 kids) $65.  More information here.

As I walked through the preview of MoMA at NGV I suddenly had flashbacks to the many art books I devoured as a student of art and design in both high school and university.  This MoMA collection quite literally jumped out of the pages of books that are now mere memories of a time I had almost forgotten… Back to the days when essays were written on paper… with a biro.

MoMA at NGV has taken over the ground floor of NGV International – there is a Part 1 and Part 2 (both included in your ticket).  The trick here for families will be pacing yourself.  There is a lot to see – and given the incredible collection you can expect crowds.

I would encourage you plan your visit around a meal break – and escape to the Great Hall, the FREE kids exhibition or the gardens out the back when the kids need to.

Many of the artworks can be approached and viewed up close – which is amazing… But if you have a child who needs to touch everything this can be anxiety inducing, so definitely have that chat with the kids before you enter – and if they love taking photo’s then this is a great exhibition for little hands to be kept busy taking photo’s of all the things!

My kids do quite like to speed through a gallery space – only really pausing for buttons and screens.  I can let you know now that there is only two such button pushing opportunities and they are located at the very end of Part 1.  If you have impatient little ones you might want to have a back up adult on hand to tag team in some extra viewing time while the kids run around outside – or you might want to come back for a second visit sans children (and to be honest, it’s the kind of exhibition you could visit more than once as there is so much to take in!).

One final note – Part 2 does contain some explicit material (towards the end, but just before you enter the last room before the MoMA gift shop).  Kara Walker’s piece adorns a full wall, Gone: An Historical Romance of a Civil War as It Occurred b’tween the Dusky Thighs of One Young Negress and Her Heart.  Those who pause to study the figures will find them in somewhat surprising scenarios – the artwork explores slavery and ethnic sterotypes, you might want to skip past this one.

My Modern Art Book is a publication for children that coincides with MoMA at NGV.  The book features information about some of the artists and designers from the collection of The Museum of Modern Art so it’s a great way to further the conversation before an after your visit. Available for purchase from the NGV design store in-store and online here: NGV.MELBOURNE with a price tag under $20 (and hard back) this is a wonderful momento!