{"id":31063,"date":"2024-12-20T14:23:55","date_gmt":"2024-12-20T03:23:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/?p=31063"},"modified":"2025-06-13T10:36:43","modified_gmt":"2025-06-13T00:36:43","slug":"mca-australia-sydney-julie-mehretu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/mca-australia-sydney-julie-mehretu\/","title":{"rendered":"Beat the Heat: The Coolest Place to Be in Sydney This Summer\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You might be thinking about a frozen cocktail at Bondi Icebergs, an ice cream on Manly Beach or taking the plunge into the ocean at Balmoral, but Sydney\u2019s coolest spot this summer is the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA Australia).<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Summer in Sydney<\/a> can have a very Speedo-driven focus for many, with the city\u2019s wealth of beaches and coastline considered the main event. But Sydney has plenty of other warm-weather attractions, from the contemporary art hub that is MCA Australia<\/a> to the history-stacked sandstone laneways of The Rocks precinct that surrounds it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See a regional-first exhibition in Sydney<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Julie
Julie Mehretu and Museum of Contemporary Art Australia \u00a9 Julie Mehretu. Photograph: Zan Wimberley<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bigger than Sydney New Year\u2019s Eve fireworks, MCA Australia\u2019s blockbuster exhibition, Julie Mehretu: A Transcore of the Radical Imaginatory<\/a>, <\/em>celebrates one of the world\u2019s most acclaimed living painters. This is the first time that you can see works from the Ethiopian-born Mehretu, not only in Australia but in the whole Asia-Pacific region. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exhibition showcases over 80 artworks, with pieces from the mid-90s to now and some pieces commissioned just for the exhibition. The New York Times<\/em> has called Mehretu \u201cone of today\u2019s most original and thought-provoking painters\u201d, and experiencing her works in person allows you to fully appreciate her wide range of influences, from Chinese ink painting and Japanese manga to rock art, literature and music. Book your tickets for the exhibition here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This incredible show is part of the Sydney International Art Series, three must-see exhibitions featuring legendary Surrealist Magritte and the groundbreaking Chinese artist Cao Fei at the Art Gallery of NSW, all exclusive to Sydney. Purchase an Art Pass to see them all<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What else is on at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia?\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"The<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sydney loves a view, and one of the most anticipated openings of the summer was the MCA\u2019s Canvas restaurant<\/a> with what might be the city\u2019s best outlook of Sydney Harbour. But take a look at your plates and you will see works of art from Josh Raine, who has been executive chef at legendary Sydney fine diner Tetsuya\u2019s as well as Pied\u202f\u00e0\u202fTerre in London and St Betty\u2019s in Hong Kong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MCA Cafe at Tallawoladah<\/a> opened in July, giving diners a ringside seat to the harbourside goings on. With a huge outdoor dining area, this cafe is ideal for families and offers casual all-day dining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also wander MCA Australia\u2019s permanent collection of more than 4,700 artworks, with a major focus on artists living and working in Australia. Check MCA’s website<\/a> for holiday operating hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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