April offers the last chance to capture a couple of National Gallery of Australia (NGA) exhibitions: Gold and the Incas: Lost Worlds of Peru, and Toyshop. We know that many of the ancient South American civilisations, such as the Incas were incredibly advanced during their halcyon days. Now Australians have the opportunity to appreciate the brilliance of these ancient civilisations first-hand with a collection of over 200 objects on display at the NGA until 21 April 2014. Pieces showcased in the collection include jewellery, ornate vessels and other intricate objects made from gold, silver, precious stones, and ceramics. Elaborate textiles and woven items are also included in the collection. The collection reveals a couple of interesting facts about the ancient culture of the Peru: firstly that the creators of these pieces were highly skilled craftspeople, and secondly, the importance the natural world played in all aspects of this civilisation’s political and religious beliefs. Viewers of the exhibition will notice continuous use of animal motifs such as birds and fish, as well as gods in many of these pieces. Pieces included in the exhibition have been lent from the Museo Nacional de Arqueología, Antropología e Historia del Perú and its fraternal collections, the Fundacion Museo Amano, the Museo Larco and the Museo Oro del Perú, as well as the collection of the National Gallery of Australia.
Balineesch dansmeisj in rust (A dancing-girl of Bali, resting) c 1925 ink; paper photogravure, printed in sepia ink, from one plate image 21.1 h x 15.9 w cm Purchased 2007
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