Matisse’s Australian influence: NGA unveils masterpieces from Berlin in local debut

Modernist artwork never seen in Australia will be on display at the National Gallery of Australia alongside some of our most celebrated artists, in a dialogue exposing a rich two-way exchange.

Picasso’s Woman in a multicoloured hat, 1939, one of the highlights from Museum Berggruen / Neue Nationalgalerie at the National Gallery of Australia. Picture: NGA

Modern masterpieces from Berlin have made their way to Australia for the first time, presented in Canberra alongside local artists they inspired.

Opening on Saturday at the National Gallery of Australia, ­Cezanne to Giacometti places the work of some of Europe’s most ­famous artists alongside Aus­tralian works in a revelatory ­exchange.

NGA director Nick Mitzevich said the exhibition was “a dialogue between the masters of ­European art and the influence they had and inspiration they gave to Australian artists”.

National Gallery of Australia director Nick Mitzevich, in front of two Picasso paintings.

“(Visitors) are going to … see works that they’ve never seen in Australia because they’ve never travelled here, and they’re going to see exceptional examples of artists that are household names like Paul Cezanne, Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso,” he said.

Alongside more than 80 works from the national collection, on loan to the NGA for the show are more than 75 pieces from the Berggruen collection.

Head of Berlin’s Museum Berggruen and Neue National­galerie Gabriel Montua said he was excited to bring the collection to an Australian audience, as “instead of them travelling to Berlin the works travel to their home”.

A view of Alberto Giacometti's 1960 sculpture, Tall nude standing III.

Museum Berggruen head Gabriel Montua and National Gallery of Australia. deputy director Adam Lindsay.

While the collection has travelled already while Museum Berggruen undergoes renovations, Dr Montua said the exhibition at the NGA had been “the most fruitful” and collaborative yet. “This one is really sticking out,” he said.

“It’s great to see which Aus­tralian artists were influenced by the artists in our collection, though that goes also the other way around.”

Henri Matisse, Verve IV, no 13 (cover maquette) 1943, Museum Berggruen, Neue Nationalgalerie — Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz. Picture: NGA

Dr Montua highlighted Australian impressionist John Russell, whom Matisse once cited as a teacher, as being “very influential for the young Matisse, more or less introducing him to colour which he experienced when he was in France”.

The NGA’s Dr Mitzevich said one of the most exciting visual moments of the show was a major sculpture standing at “over 2m high, one of the most significant Giacomettis to come to Australia just because it’s big and complex”.