An unexpected delight
I had always said that Canberra was a big park with buildings scattered through it. The last time I visited Canberra, which was probably over ten years ago, the place made me very angry. It felt lifeless, car dependant and stagnant. It's only saving grace being the National Gallery of Australia.
However time has passed and even though it is still 'a big park with buildings scattered through it' Canberra has become a pleasurable tourist destination. I have been to our nation's capital twice this year and have thoroughly enjoyed what it has to offer. With impressive boutique hotels such as the Burbury Hotel & Apartments and Hotel Hotel, and enticing dining places such as Malamay, Lilotang, Maple & Clove Wholefoods, Akiba and Monster Bar, Canberra provides a culturally stimulating holiday.
Earlier this year, I travelled to Canberra to see the James Turrell exhibition at the National Gallery of Australia (NGA). James Turrell is an American installation artist who uses light and space as his medium. Turrell has been a huge inspiration to me since studying Architecture, and his Roden crater was one of my precedents for my final year project. I had experienced some of his work already at the Chi Chu art gallery in Japan, so was especially keen to see this Australian exhibition. Even though I didn't enter one of the main installations, the perceptual cell, I found the exhibition to be totally overwhelming and beautiful.
The exhibition has since finished but there is a permanent Turrell installation, in the NGA's garden, called Skyspace. Turrell's Skyspace is a specifically proportioned chamber, or stupa, with a large opening in the ceiling open to the sky. Turrell has constructed many variations of Skyspace around the world, but this one is particularly interesting as the chamber is integrated into an Australian landscape - entering the chamber is via a long pathway where you meander past Australian native plants and cross over a water feature. Skyspace is open daily and is free.
Just recently I visited Canberra again, and had a few fun days of eating out and enjoying the warm Spring weather. I had a lovely morning walk through Telopea Park, along Lake Burley Griffith, and then briefly visited the National Portrait gallery to see the Macquarie Digital Portraiture Award 2015. I ran out of time to visit Lonsdale Street in Braddon, but I have been told and have read that there are many delicious eateries and coffee places there.
