Floribunda
NGV x Bunjil Place
Bunjil Place
20 March – 20 July 2025
A hybrid of ‘abundance’ and ‘flower’, the exhibition title Floribunda suggests beauty and plenitude. Accordingly, the exhibition comprises over 150 objects drawn from the NGV’s rich and diverse collections. One of the largest single loans in the NGV’s history, Floribunda was conceived as a ‘Wunderkammer’ or ‘Cabinet of Curiosities’ dedicated to flowers. Part fantasy, part taxonomy, Floribunda can be understood as a philosophical democratic approach through which a range of artistic expressions can sit side by side to generate new sensations, readings and insights. The appeal of this Wunderkammer lies in the idea that there is no single hero work of art. Instead, the enchanting intoxication of Floribunda arises from the totality of its parts – an expansive profusion of flowers that speaks of tenderness, fragility, resilience, fertility, joy, sorrow, love and the human condition. The project is specially conceived for Bunjil Place, an extensive purpose-built arts complex, gathering place and creative hub located in Melbourne’s south-east corridor. Established and managed by the visionary City of Casey, Bunjil Place has developed a reputation for innovative collaborative exhibitions which embrace these themes for its diverse audiences.
Given its subject matter, it would be easy to get caught up in the sumptuous nature of Floribunda. It might even be easy to think about it as an exhibition that doesn’t require much thinking. Whilst these responses would be valid, they overlook the invitation implicit in the exhibition. Floribunda invites audiences to reflect upon their own lives, through the realm of flowers, magically explored by artists across generations. It is an invitation to allow memories to surface, to consider that which is often taken for granted and to be deeply moved by the simplicity and profundity of a flower.