HOTA, Home Of The Arts, has attracted a world exclusive exhibition which showcases a selection of 50 works of pop art from the privately owned Mugarbi Collection of New York. That’s quite a coup and the first time these pieces have been seen in Australia. Pop Masters: Art from the Mugrabi Collection, New York is currently open in the wonderfully accessible HOTA gallery until early June. Hubby and I had the opportunity to check it out and thought we’d share our experience.
Pop Masters: Art from the Mugrabi Collection, New York
The laid back vibe of Surfers Paradise on Queensland’s Gold Coast could not be more different to the fast pace of New York, the home of Pop Masters: Art from the Mugrabi Collection, and yet, the exhibition seems totally at home at HOTA.
What a privilege it is to see the works of 15 legendary artists including Andy Warhol, Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat. I can’t say I was a fan of every single one but even art that isn’t to my taste is thought provoking and always starts good conversations between Hubby and I. There was plenty that I did love about this exhibition and I highly recommend seeing it if you live locally or find yourself visiting the Gold Coast while it’s still on.
HOTA offers a gallery with fantastic access throughout, good circulation space and easy viewing for wheelchair users. Seats are placed in various locations throughout the gallery for those needing to enjoy the art without standing for long periods of time.
HOTA makes art more engaging to younger visitors, or those who don’t have the patience to read the usual descriptions accompanying the works, with simplified explanations which also ask a question. A good conversation starter for families.
I won’t share too many photos because I don’t want to take away to wow of the exhibition. I will say, make sure you take a guess at how many tablets make up one of the works. I was a long way off the correct answer. When looking at that work, also keep in mind that the tablets have been arranged in order as to what medication would be treated from head to toe. It’s remarkable to look at the work that has gone into it and to think it’s been disassembled and assembled again on site.
And as you leave the exhibition, stop by the artwork with the banana on the screen and read the story behind it. I found it amazing to think that Andy Warhol’s art was resurrected from an old Commodore computer after his death.
Pop Masters: Art from the Mugrabi Collection, New York is a ticketed exhibition but we had no problem arriving on a Sunday morning and buying our tickets on the spot.
Pop Masters: Art from the Mugrabi Collection, New York finishes on the 4th of June so don’t delay in visiting.
If you’re visiting HOTA with children, there’s a fantastic play space on the same level as Pop Masters with lots of interactive opportunities.
We’ve previously reviewed HOTA’s exceptional accessible facilities including a Changing Places bathroom, quiet hour, Auslan interpreted sessions and more in a blog which you can catch up on here.
We visited HOTA on a Sunday so we could combine a visit to Pop Masters with a wander around the HOTA Farmer’s Market. The market occurs every Sunday from 630am-11am. The produce is bursting with freshness, there’s live music and plenty of lovely food to snack on. A local gave us a tip to visit Ronnie at his cannoli cart because his cannoli filling is home made. We were not disappointed, it was the best cannoli we’ve ever had. I also came home with passionfruit and farm fresh avocados in my suitcase, well, if I’m honest, I made Hubby put them in his suitcase!
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