Toni Maticevski’s Dark Wonderland exhibition is on at Bendigo Art Gallery until Sunday 20 November 2016. The Australian designer has long been known for his gentle, unassuming demeanour, and the chance to explore his creative evolution over time, makes it easy to understand why he lets his creations speak on his behalf.
The launch party was filled with the usual crowd of local identities and city folk, in town just for the evening – one guest was overheard telling a guest that she had her driver waiting outside. Of course, such a spectacle brings out peacocks, young and old with varying degrees of success. With quality ‘people watching’ on offer, the champagne flowed and Karen Quinlan, Bendigo Art Gallery’s director, officially opened the exhibition and closed formalities by telling the audience exactly how wearing a Maticevski makes a woman feel (otherworldly, invincible), and as she had worn her favourite voluminous black Maticevski, we were gently asked not to step on her train throughout the evening.
Bendigo is just under two hours drive from Melbourne, but the exhibition and the location itself are well worth the road trip, even if you don’t have the luxury of staying the night.
Dark Wonderland is an exploration of Maticevski’s different techniques and inspiration over the years, his masterful manipulation of fashion silhouettes, rough, unfinished seams, and innovative gathering techniques. His collaborations have included Dinosaur Designs, Sydney Dance Company and Autore South Sea Pearls. His work is represented in the collections at the National Gallery of Victoria, Power Museum in Sydney and the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles.
A big thank you to Anthony for inviting me along, and for the best birthday gift to end the perfect experience.
Need to know:
- Toni Maticevski: Dark Wonderland runs at Bendigo Art Gallery until 20 November 2016
- The exhibition is open Tuesdays through to Sundays.
- Exhibition tickets here and information on how to get to Bendigo, and other highlights.
- Exhibition tickets can be purchased online or at the door. We recommend purchasing tickets in advance to secure your preferred date and entry time and saving time on the day.
Shop Shop:
- Buy tickets here
- Buy The Elegant Rebel here
Get Social:
- Bendigo Art Gallery
- Maticevski
- Website
The Garb Wire 