On my mind: Nicholas Chambers
Nicholas Chambers is a senior curator at the Art Gallery of NSW, which re-opens on June 1. He has curated exhibitions on Andy Warhol, Marcel Duchamp, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. He recently worked on Making art public: 50 years of Kaldor Public Art Projects.
Film
Fine Arts Sydney, Ryan Moore’s gallery, recently showed John Smith’s seminal 1976 film The Girl Chewing Gum. Ryan set up a 16mm projector in the gallery and showed it in its gorgeous original format.
Music
New Zealander Nadia Reid writes and performs beautiful, brooding folk music. I’m a tragic fanboy. Her third LP, Out of My Province, was released last month, just days before social isolation restrictions started.
Food
One of my favourite local restaurants is Surry Hills' Sang by Mabasa. It’s a tiny, family-run place that turns out simple, creative and deeply comforting Korean food. They’re now doing a terrific takeaway and delivery menu.
https://www.sangbymabasa.com.au
Art
I bought myself Chris Dolman’s Chips descending from Galerie Pompom. Chris painted it after seeing Marcel Duchamp’s Nude Descending A Staircase No.2 1912, which came to Australia for the first time in our Duchamp retrospective. Artists and galleries are struggling: if you can, buy art.
https://www.galeriepompom.com
Design
I’m particularly fond of a Pirka stool I found at Redfern's Anibou that was designed by Finn Ilmari Tapiovaara in 1955. The legs look like branches and the seat has a gentle curve that makes it comfy to perch on. My son often chooses it over the couch.