National Gallery of Victoria International in Melbourne is presenting “Designing Women,” which is on view through March 24, 2019.The exhibition highlights the work of female designers and the dynamic and critical force they bring along in shaping contemporary design culture. “Designing Women” exhibits works drawn from the NGV Collection and explores areas such as lighting, furniture, object, and fashion design, along with architecture, textiles and contemporary jewelry. More than sixty different works on view along with new acquisitions all connected by female authorship. The featured works include “Oru Chair” by UAE’s Aljoud Lootah, “Yang Metamorphosis” designed by Carlotta de Bevilacqua for Artemide and “Horse Lamp” by Swedish design studio Front Design. According to NGV, “The exhibition includes works by fifty designers, from Australian icons such as Elliat Rich and Helen Kontouris to international trailblazers including Zaha Hadid and Neri Oxman. Exploring the themes of leadership, research, teamwork and community, the exhibition emphasizes the accelerating opportunity for contemporary women to shape the future in a world increasingly defined by design.”One of the highlights of “Designing Women” is Lee Darroch’s 25-pelt possum skin cloak. A Yorta Yorta, Mutti Mutti, Boon Wurrung artist from Gippsland, Darroch, is at the helm of the revival of the sacred cultural practice of possum cloak making in Victorian Aboriginal communities. “An NGV commission, the skin cloak, tells the story of identity, Yorta Yorta Country, and the Dhugula, Kaila, and Yalooka rivers, in addition to her compelling family history,” explains the gallery.Other highlights include “Genesy Lamp” by Zaha Hadid, for Italian lighting design manufacturer Artemide. “Zaha Hadid’s use of advanced design and manufacturing technology placed her at the forefront of architectural and design practice for nearly forty years. Her designs are characterized by a beauty that is connected to innovation, future technologies, and social progress,” states the gallery. The design is almost two meters tall and is inspired by the patterns of how trees grow in the forest.“Bloom,” another installation at the exhibition which has been created by Croatian architect and digital researcher Alisa Andrasek in collaboration with Chilean architect Jose Sanchez. “It is a swelling, neon pink structure shaped with coils, rings, spirals, and branches. The work is made up of interlocking pieces called ‘cells,’ which are used to build a formation that is unique each time the work is displayed, referencing the interaction between people in public spaces,” adds the gallery. This dynamic installation was commissioned by the Greater London Authority for a series of events during the Olympic and Paralympic games in 2012.“Designing Women” runs through March 24, 2019, at the National Gallery of Victoria International, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne VIC 3006, Australia.For details, visit: http://admin.blouinartinfo.com/galleryguide/national-gallery-of-victoria-international/overviewClick on the slideshow for a sneak peek at the exhibition.http://www.blouinartinfo.com/Founder: Louise Blouin Read more