Temple of Boom by architects Adam Newman & Kelvin Tsang is a small-scale version of the Parthenon located in the Grollo Equiset Garden at Melbourne’s National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), Australia. The installation, Temple of Boom features a colourful and vibrant reimagining of the iconic Ancient Greek temple.
The Parthenon
The Parthenon is a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena. Famous for its harmonious proportions and the exquisite quality of its sculptural decoration, the Parthenon endures as a symbol of Hellenic identity, artistic excellence, beauty, democracy and civilisation.
The Project
Over the summer months, the Architecture Commission will evolve and change as it is painted by a team of Melbourne artists. It draws inspiration from the vibrant colours and rich artistic embellishments that defined the original building.
The layering of these artworks over months asks us to consider the effect of time on all architecture.
Since the fifth century, BCE the Parthenon has changed use and form over generations, including as a temple, church and mosque. It has also suffered under military attacks, fire and looting, before undergoing significant preservation from the 1970s to its current state.
By displaying the effects of time, the project suggests that perspectives on buildings, and identities, can evolve and change. Temple of Boom celebrates the constant cultural flux, while also seeking to expand our understanding of the Parthenon as an enduring architectural and cultural beacon.
Taking its name from the vibrations of music, Temple of Boom is envisioned as a colourful meeting place for the community and an outdoor venue for a diverse program of NGV-curated performances, programs, and live music across the summer period.
The Artists
Temple of Boom will be painted over the summer months by a list of Melbourne street and urban artists who have been guest curated by Toby Benador, Founder and Director, Just Another Agency. Three artists have collaborated on the first layer of artwork for the opening period:
David Lee Pereira is a visual artist whose works explore the fluidity of gender, sexuality and identity. Influenced by the work of impressionist and surrealist artists Georgia O’Keefe, Salvador Dali and Edvard Munch, Pereira has adorned the structure with large-than-life floral motifs that draw attention to nature’s flamboyant use of scent and colour to allure pollinators.
Manda Lane is a muralist, illustrator and paper-based artist from Collingwood, Victoria. With a keen focus on botanicals, her art explores the interactions between the natural world and industrial or man-made objects. In this mural installation, Lane depicts various growth behaviours of plants, creating a visual metaphor for personal expression and growth.
Drez is a multidisciplinary artist based in Melbourne who uses colour and form to play with perspective. Drawing inspiration from art historical perspectives, including the Greenbergian Modernism and Op-Art schools, Drez’s work creates an intersection between abstract art and street art. For this installation, Drez has created a boldly colourful mural that changes composition when viewed from different angles.
Photography: Sean Fennessy
TREND PACKAGE / The Maker Culture 2024/25
Welcome to a roadmap to unlock four strategies for makers of the arts&crafts industry. The trend package includes a report with four new directions and 11 success stories, while the workbook shows how to take action and create your own strategy.
One Response
Wow! The gradient color columns are great!!