[First filed: Oct 20, 2010 @ 13:12]

30 October 2010 – 27 February 2011 | Project Gallery
FREE http://nga.gov.au/spaceinvaders/

Street art is not graffiti. Street art may have had its origins in graffiti, but graffiti is a different, more rudimentary, animal altogether.

Street art is complex, interesting, challenging. Even a cursory glance at the images contained in this ground-breaking show reveals just how sophisticated it is. Remember John Howard? – he’s here; and Ned Kelly – ditto. And for Christ’s sake He’s included as well. There’s politics, social commentary, fashion. But let’s not mess about here, in some of the works there is a kind of stuff-you nonchalance with respect to what you think, and about what they’ve done, and where it’s going to finish up. But so it goes.

So come see this first-time-in-a-major-gallery exhibition and be inspired by stuff that is not only, yes, ‘beautiful’, but beautifully executed. Stuff that has real muscle, real presence, real content, done by a bunch of urban guerrillas – space-invaders – whose works have not only transformed the walls of their cities but have now breached the walls of our citadels – the galleries themselves. If you want to see some fabulous things, see this exhibition. Read the catalogue, see the work, change your mind. It’s the only one you’ve got.

[Sync not titled (Yoda) 2004, stencil, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, Gordon Darling Australia Pacific Print Fund 2007, © Sync]

Party at the NGA on opening night – get your tickets now

Come and party at the ‘New Look’ National Gallery of Australia on Friday 29 October for the official opening of the coolest exhibition to ever hit the walls:

Check out the exhibition, meet the artists, chat with the curator and funk it up with some soul filled tunes from DJ Rush… Then party on at the official afterparty at NewActon hosted by exhibition Cultural partners NewActon/Nishi and the Molonglo group.

Transport between the official opening party and the afterparty will be available on the night.

Street art has significantly altered Australian visual culture, especially over the past decade. It has announced the arrival of a new generation of contemporary artists. Playful, edgy, clever and satirical, the works in Space invaders have appeared in city streets around Australia.

This exciting exhibition looks at street art of the past 10 years by more than 40 of the most prolific and infamous street artists working in Australia today. The works are from the Gallery’s growing collection of street art—the only one of its kind in an Australian public gallery.

Space invaders Exhibition Official Opening Party:

Friday 29 October

7:30pm – 10:30pm, National Gallery of Australia

Space invaders Afterparty

10pm – late, NewActon
Please note the afterparty is a cash bar only
TICKETS: $50 | http://www.moshtix.com.au/
NGA members $40, guests $50 | ph 6240 6528

[Meek Begging for change 2004,
stencil, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, Gordon Darling Australia Pacific Print Fund 2007, © Meek]

TICKET GIVEAWAY: RiotACT has five double passes to give away to readers. To enter post in the comments your favourite piece of street art, preferably with a link to imagery of the work, before 27 October. The five winners will be chosen at random.

Please make sure your email address in our database (>> my riotact >> edit my profile) is correct so we can get in touch if you win..

UPDATE:

And the winners are: Northbourne Ultimatum, Skidbladnir, Bags, Fragge, and Sunshine. Jazz will be in touch with you shortly and if you haven’t heard anything email tim@the-riotact.com