ngv vienna art & design

While living in the UK, I was lucky enough to be able to visit Austria for a long weekend. It was around Easter time and the trip was split between Vienna and Saltsburg (The Sound of Music tour, anyone?). I revisited the memories of the Vienna portion of my trip when I attended the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces: Vienna Art and Design at the NGV.

This varied and inspiring exhibition includes paintings, architecture, decorative arts and much more. A highlight for me was Gustav Klimt’s Beethoven frieze. This 34-metre masterpiece is jaw-droppingly intense and I had originally seen it in Vienna’s Secession building. The building, a masterpiece in itself.

The decorative arts pieces were another highlight. I would have happily smuggled some of the armchairs on display out of the gallery to replace the ikea pieces I have in my flat, and now loath. The silver tea service pieces offered a glimpse into a world brimming with unique craftsmanship. A flower vase on display was unlike anything I’d ever seen before and it would have made me more inclined to buy flowers, if I was fortunate enough to own it.

The exhibition also showcases some of Vienna’s stunning architecture. Many of the framed images on the NGV walls, I was convinced, were the same images residing in my photo album. I could have looked at those buildings and their intricate designs all day.

Vienna is a beautiful city and those lucky enough to visit, I'm sure, have similar fond memories as I do. However, if you haven't visited Austria's capital, the NGV's exhibition will show you a glimpse of its beauty and leave you smiling.