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Design Opulence Reigns Supreme At Art Of Dining 2019

Design Opulence Reigns Supreme At Art Of Dining 2019

A lavish, masquerade ball-style affair invites guests to immerse themselves in a design extravaganza of extraordinary dining.

There was a mood of excitement and anticipation as well-shod guests arrived at Melbourne’s NGV for the third instalment of the Art of Dining. This once-in-a-blue-moon fundraising dinner is renowned for its incredible glamour and eye-popping table dressings. Some of Australia’s most notable celebrities, business people and socialites were in attendance, lending credence to what was already a high-voltage affair.

Art of Dining – a fundraising initiative of the NGV Women’s Association (NGVWA) – invites over 40 artists, interior designers, couturiers, florists, stylists and retails to imagine, and then create, lavish table setting that transport the diner to parallel realms.

In 2019, Art of Dining took table art to a new stratospheric level, calling on creatives to respond to the theme of Tiepolo’s ‘Banquet of Cleopatra’. Among those who produced awe-inspiring table settings was well-loved designer Simone Haag whose seating choices drew the appreciation of design aficionados. Mark Douglass’ glass-blown table settings were an instant draw-card, inspiring reverent appraisals from many guests.

Interior designer and decorator Adelaide Bragg’s dining setting invited diners to step up into an intimate, tent-like space. Her attention to detail was exquisite with beautiful cardboard crafted pieces – from tassels to name cards and even a framed mirror – created by cardboard designer Noelle Rigaudie.

Danielle Brustman’s striking homage to Yves Klein blue cut through the visual noise. At the centre of this table setting (for Kay & Burton) was a twirling obelisk, while hand-crafted tableware and cutlery by ceramicist Jia Jia Ji Chen added a warm, textural element.

The NGVWA is notable for its funding of works of art for the NGV collections (perhaps most notable being Yayoi Kusama’s interactive installation work for its Triennial 2017/18); travel grants for NGV curators; and encouragement awards for promising students of the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA).

Taking place last Wednesday evening in the NGV Great Hall, Art of Dining will be back in three year’s time. For now, we have the full set of images to transport you back to what was a truly unique evening.

National Gallery of Victoria
ngv.vic.gov.au

Photography by Dan Castano


Author:

Alice Blackwood

Alice Blackwood is the Editorial Director at Indesign Media, and Editor of Indesign magazine and Indesignlive.com. She is a trained journalist and editor, with a background in branding and communications strategy. For more than 15 years Alice has been a passionate advocate of the architecture and design industry within Australia and the wider Indo-Pacific region. Through her work on international design festivals, regional awards programs including the INDE.Awards, as well as in print and digital media, she has helped establish numerous major platforms that recognise and celebrate the region’s most exciting architecture and design, and elevate those industry leaders into the global spotlight. “Our region’s design is defined by its fresh, yet hungry entrepreneurial spirit, its bold thought and brave actions, the flawless execution of complex ideas, and world-leading outcomes. I’m fascinated by all the moving parts of our architecture and design community – the businesses, the brands, the big-thinkers and everyday-doers.” Alice remains an active member of the Australian design and media industries as a Moderator, MC, Judge, Commentator, Mentor and Advisor. Among her main passions are workplace design, education design, healthcare design, wellness design, hospitality design and the business of design.