Van Gogh’s life and work on show at The Lume, Melbourne
Immerse yourself in the world and art of Vincent Van Gogh at this new Melbourne attraction.
HOT IN THE CITY
The Lume, Melbourne
The traditional art exhibition is transformed at this permanent attraction, which has opened with a Vincent Van Gogh showcase. Instead of milling around static artworks in quiet, white rooms, visitors wander or sit among vast, dynamic projections of the artist’s paintings and sketches, accompanied by evocative classical music. Purists may protest but for everyone else, especially children and those who aren’t regular gallery visitors, The Lume is great edutainment.
It’s created by Grande Experiences, which has a touring program that includes Leonardo da Vinci: 500 Years of Genius and Van Gogh Alive. The latter has similar content to The Lume’s first offering, but it’s presented here on a larger, more immersive scale. In a 3000sq m, four-storey space, high-resolution digital projections move across floor and walls, including a mezzanine level. In one room, vintage photos of the Eiffel Tower and contemporary video of the landscapes Van Gogh painted provide real-life context. In other areas, visitors can try sketching or take snaps among infinitely reflected faux sunflowers. There’s also a selfie opportunity beside the foyer’s introductory information about the artist: a physical re-creation of the bedroom he painted in 1889.
Another painting, Cafe Terrace at Night, inspired the dining area’s decor. Here you can watch works such as The Starry Night come alive while sampling a French-leaning menu that includes cheese, charcuterie, souflees, petits fours and Champagne. Exit through the gift shop’s extensive array of merchandise celebrating an artist who, ironically, sold one painting in his lifetime. At the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre; open 9am-7pm Monday-Friday; 9am-5pm on weekends; ticket prices vary.
PATRICIA MAUNDER
COOL IN THE COUNTRY
Bar Merenda, Daylesford, Victoria
In winter 2020, during a lucky break between Victorian lockdowns, Andy Ainsworth and Clare O’Flynn quit their Sydney apartment for a Victorian tree change, settling just outside the spa capital of Daylesford.
Ainsworth, an alumnus of Sydney’s 10 William Street in Paddington and London’s small-plates, natural-wine sensation Brawn, was drawn to the Central Highlands for its great wine and produce. That combo was enough to convince the couple to relocate. “I didn’t really know exactly what my dream was, but it was somewhere I could showcase the wines I love,” Ainsworth says. “And I’m obsessed with regionality or sense of place.”
The sharp realisation of that dream is Bar Merenda, a 24-seat wine bar opened late last year in Daylesford. Interiors are simple but characterful: a fresh white and green paint job, marble-topped tables, framed wine posters, and high stools at the bar. This is very much a bar with snacks (merenda is Italian for afternoon morsels). Start with an aperitif – perhaps a Sicilian bitter made on Mt Etna, or the house spritz of Maidenii vermouth with a dash of yuzu-infused sake (yuzushu).
The menu includes whatever O’Flynn and Ainsworth have harvested from their garden. Perhaps spring greens with cheese and herbs, bacon-wrapped terrine or golden sourdough focaccia. The wine list is a gift for the grape lover. By the glass there’s everything from local heroes to Piemontese barbera. The well-priced cellar is a journey through great global vineyards.
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KENDALL HILL