Sydney, Australia, is already known for its striking architecture, such as the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. However, another exciting piece of architecture will be opening its doors in December 2022. The Sydney Modern Project is the brainchild of the Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW) and is a brand new museum for contemporary art.

Sydney Modern Project

The Sydney Modern Project is AGNSW’s new museum for contemporary art. It is also the Australian city’s way of trying to match New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and London’s Tate Modern, as a must-visit for lovers of modern art.

According to AGNSW, the new museum is “one of the most ambitious cultural landmarks in Australia to open since the Sydney Opera House almost 50 years ago.” Moreover, this is due to the scale and scope of the project.

The new museum will be beautifully placed, overlooking Sydney’s harbor and the Royal Botanic Gardens. Moreover, it is being built alongside the existing AGNSW building. The new structure will effectively almost double its exhibition floor space, while both museums will be connected by a land bridge. Even better, that land bridge will become an outdoor public art garden offering sweeping views of the city.

The building was designed by Pritzker Prize-winning Japanese architects, SANAA. Their previous projects include the New Museum in New York and the Louvre-Lens in France. In fact, this will be the architects’ first project in Australia.

It has already raised the bar on museum design by becoming Australia’s first art museum to be awarded the highest rating for sustainable design. This is due to the incorporation of solar panels, rainwater harvesting, green roofs and low-carbon materials.

Moreover, the museum’s striking design complements the art on display inside, where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists have been given precedence in the new spaces. Meanwhile, the new gallery has the capacity and scale to exhibit huge pieces of artwork.

What art will be on display?

The museum curators announced last week that they have commissioned original artworks from nine local and international artists. More than half the work will be by female artists, while three will be by Indigenous artists. Among the artists are Lorraine-Connell-Northey, Yayoi Kusama, Sumryn Gill, Karla Kickens, Richard Lewer, Jonathan Jones, Lee Mingwei, Francis Upritchard and Lisa Reihana.

Museum showpieces include a new sculpture by Waradgerie (Wiradjuri) artist Kickens that explores the continuing legacy of patriarchy and colonialism. Another striking design is a giant floral sculpture by Japanese artist Kusama that will be displayed on the terrace. Meanwhile, an exciting sci-fi moving image comes from Maori artist Reihana. Reportedly, it tells the history of Australia and New Zealand connections.

Dr. Michael Brand, director of Art Gallery of New South Wales spoke about the new art project. “Together these new works establish the expanded Art Gallery as a global art museum offering a unique experience in Sydney – one that is responsive, purposeful and engaging and where each visit creates new encounters, new stories and new connections.”

Sydney Modern Project is set to open in December, but the exact date has not yet been announced. Readers can find out more information on the Art Gallery of New South Wales website.