Two great art exhibitions exclusive to Sydney

The works of one of the world’s most celebrated sculptors, Anish Kapoor, will be featured at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA), while the Art Gallery of New South Wales will present the largest Francis Bacon exhibition ever seen in Australia.

“This is all part of the third annual Sydney International Art Series created by Destination NSW and supported by the NSW Government with the aim of bringing the world’s most outstanding exhibitions to our State,” Mr Souris said.

“British artist Anish Kapoor is one of the world’s most celebrated sculptors working today and his art work is found the world over, in both private collections and public spaces.

“His latest impressive piece, the115-metre high ArcelorMittal Orbit tower, is Britain’s largest public sculpture and currently stands centre stage at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Mr Souris said Sydney will be the only city in Australia to host Francis Bacon: Five Decades, the first major Australian exhibition of rare works by the master of post-war British art - on the 20th anniversary of his death.

“It will be a compelling retrospective that provides Sydney residents and visitors with the opportunity to view significant works from one of the world’s most important painters, spanning the entirety of his full and celebrated career.

“There is no doubt the calibre of exhibitions we have seen as part of the Sydney International Art Series over the past two years is on par with those you would find in other leading cities around the globe and this year’s exhibitions are no exception”.

MCA Director Liz Ann Macgregor said Anish Kapoor is one of the world’s most highly-acclaimed and influential artists of our times.

“His powerful works create deep emotional and physical engagement through the exploration of mass, contrast and colour. This exhibition is his first in Australia and is certain to attract crowds of visitors,” Ms Macgregor said.

Art Gallery of New South Wales Director, Dr Michael Brand, said Francis Bacon is widely acknowledged as Europe’s most important figurative painter after Picasso.

“I am delighted that we will be able to bring some of his greatest masterpieces to Sydney in November. Featuring five decades of Bacon’s highly charged work, this will be an exhibition not to be missed,” Dr Brand said.

Mr Souris said that since Sydney International Art Series began in 2010, more than $75 million in new money had been generated for the State and attracted about 900,000 attendees, with more than 80,000 interstate and overseas visitors coming specifically to Sydney to see the exhibitions.

“Bringing major exhibitions such as these to Sydney puts the spotlight on our Harbour City and I am confident that these exhibitions will be successful in attracting local, interstate and overseas visitors and will be a boon to NSW’s cultural life and economy,” Mr Souris said.