Artistic Flavor In Sydney

Museum of Contemporary Art Australia in Sydney at night. Photo credit: William Susetyo.

William Susetyo wrote this guest post on the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia in Sydney. Born in China, raised in Australia, then bitten by the travel bug, Susetyo has a passion for culture, lifestyle and media. He is a travel writer at Accommodation.com which offers accommodation in Sydney.

Sydney is renowned for its quirkiness and its inhabitants possessing a perennial infatuation for the creative arts.

From chalk artists inscribing intricate, tessellating patterns on the ground at Queen Victoria Building to the dazzling light spectacle, the Vivid Festival, it’s not difficult for visitors to discover this city’s creative nature.

This artistic flavor is on full display at one particular venue, conveniently located in Circular Quay and only a brief hop, jump and skip away from accommodation in the Central Business District.

Welcome to Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art Australia or ‘MCA’ for short, a popular local favorite.

The museum was opened in 1991 with extensions designed by Sydney architect Sam Mitchell, commencing construction in 2010. After two years of careful crafting and sculpting, the MCA unfurled the curtains on March 29, 2012 to reveal a revamped building, gift-wrapped with new galleries and an entire floor devoted to the MCA Collection, and the National Centre for Creative Learning –sporting the latest technology to help generate a surreal experience for visitors.

It doesn’t get quirker than this: a staring contest with Spiderman, part of an augmented reality marketing campaign. Photo credit: William Susetyo.

Here, creativity and innovation are portrayed through a tantalizing showcase of color, imagination and talent. With more than 6,000 contemporary artworks handpicked by Senior Curator Rachel Kent from both local and international artists, and portrayed through a diverse range of media, art lovers will be captivated for hours. With the exception of special events, the venue has made admission free for members of the public.

The broad range of contemporary artworks available for viewing, include traditional aboriginal rock wall paintings, abstract-looking sculptures, kooky photographic artworks, brilliantly-edited videos, and canvas paintings with a post-apocalyptic theme. In addition, regular events include ‘Thursday Lates’, where the centre’s hours are extended every Thursday for visitors to appreciate current exhibitions well into the evening.

Feeling a little overwhelmed by all the creativity? You’ll be pleased to know that the MCA offers free guided tours that will help transform a clueless first-timer into a seasoned art admirer by the end of their session. The guides consist mainly of volunteers who are friendly, happy to teach and very knowledgeable about all the artworks that reside within the building.

And the icing on the cake? There is a café on the roof which has a balcony with spectacular views of Circular Quay, making a trip here a perfect way to conclude your art adventure at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia.

Museum of Contemporary Art Australia

140 George Street

The Rocks

Sydney, Australia

Website: www.mca.com.au