The
Gallery of Modern Art unveiled one of its biggest and most extensive children's exhibits on June 25.
Ghost World is a large scale installation piece by prolific Australian artist Callum Morton, who finally answers that age old question; what do you get when you combine architecture with art? (Art-chitecture?)
The Park Level of the Children's Art Centre has been transformed in to an abandoned ghost town streetscape. The life sized display uses facades similar to those employed in television and movie sets to present a colourful scene full of ironic symbolism that is designed to inspire and engage children.
But the most exciting part of this exhibit is the activity centres, where children are given the opportunity to create additions to the town. In the
What's On program, they can make billboards which will be scanned and displayed throughout the city; in the
Ghost City activity corner, mini-urban planners can help turn the Ghost Village in to a thriving Ghost City, and at
Piggy's Supermarket, children can create their own grocery lines that will be stocking the supermarket shelves.
Callum Morton was inspired by the 1974 Mel Brooks Western
Blazing Saddles, in which a similar reconstructed town is a major plot point. Morton's focus was to create something more realistic than the usual ghost town replica; he says that 'unlike the familiar idea of a ghost town often played out in theme park 'worlds', the abandoned buildings in this town are more modern.'
The Gallery of Modern Art has presented more than 25 exhibits for children. Ghost World is the second single artist display in the Children's Art Centre. The exhibit is free to enjoy and runs until 17 October.
