The John Kaldor Family Collection, which opened at the Art
Gallery of NSW (AGNSW) in Sydney on 21st
May, 2011, is not only historic in its contents but also in its
donation. The $35 million private
collection of the Kaldor Family was donated to the State of NSW in 2008. The collection consists of more than 200
works and has been collected for the last 50 years by Sydney collector and director of Kaldor Public
Art Projects, John Kaldor and his family. This
generous contribution is not only the single largest donation of art to a
public gallery in Australian history, but it means that the AGNSW has now
acquired Australia’s most extensive collection of contemporary art from the last
half century. Even though the collection
was donated in 2008 it took the NSW government 2 years to provide the funds to develop
the AGNSW’s art storage facility into a new floor. After the makeover, the new floor is home to the
Kaldor Family Collection alongside the existing contemporary art collection,
modern gallery, dedicated photography gallery and a study room which houses the
gallery’s collection of works on paper.
The floor's transformation from a storage space to one of
the "greatest collections of international contemporary art" was amazing.
“It is a milestone in the history of the
Gallery” and is “the result of incredible generosity of individuals and the
positive support of our state government."[1]
said Edmund Capon, Director of AGNSW. “The Kaldor Collection brings
not only a new breadth and personality to the Gallery’s collections, but also
exciting opportunities, in collaboration with our existing holdings, for
exploring and illustrating the art of our times.”[2]
The collection covers
multiple themes although there is a particular focus on sculpture and
installation, pop art and minimalism. One of the main features on the
collection are the five gigantic wall works by Sol LeWitt, along with some of
his other original installations and sculptures, that span over several decades
of his career. The sculptures of Carl Andre, Christo, Jeff
Koons, Nam June Paik and Robert Rauschenberg and the video works of Francis Alÿs and Bill Viola are also some of the celebrated work that has made its way into the collection. It also contains multiple site specific, commissioned works including
an installation by Ugo Rondinone and a wall work by Richard Long.
The John Kaldor Family collection is on display at Art
Gallery of NSW until 2nd May 2012.
[1]
Simon
Black, “John Kaldor gives away his $35 million
collection of a lifetime” , news.com.au, May 18, 2011, accessed May 1,2012, http://www.news.com.au/national/john-kaldor-gives-away-his-35-million-collection-of-a-lifetime/story-e6frfkvr-1226057911673
[2] “John
Kaldor Family Collection”, Art Gallery of NSW, accessed May 1, 2012. http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/collection/contemporary-art/john-kaldor-family-collection/
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