Flash hangs Raphael...

at the entrance to the National Gallery's Renaissance Exhibition!

Flash Canberra was recently commissioned by the National Gallery of Australia to design, print and install the entrance mural for their Renaissance Exhibition of 15th and 16th Century Italian paintings, from the Accademia Carrara, Bergamo. Flash also printed various wall murals and drop banners displayed throughout the Gallery. The exhibition includes a comprehensive collection of Renaissance works from masters such as Raphael, Botticelli, Titan and Bellini, to name a few, and runs until the 9th of April 2012.



As part of the exhibition we lovingly re-created an imposing 9.5 wide x 10m high window installation of Raphael's masterpiece St. Sebastian over the front of the Gallery's entrance. This stunning mural can be clearly seen on approach to the Gallery and acts as the exhibition's beacon, creating a suitably grand entrance.



The entrance mural provided a challenge, from it's design and production through to it's instillation. Raphael's original St. Sebastian measures 43cm x 34cm. The size of the original file was substantially increased to ensure an optimum printing resolution.

The panels were meticulously planned to fit the entrance windows, with the alignment of the mural along the mullions of the window frames being a critical factor. The installation required the employment of a scissor lift and spider boom for the team of four to position and place the panels. These were printed on UV resistant PhotoMesh with a one way vision effect.



The one way vision was an important factor in the design of the mural as the Gallery specified that it did not want visitors distracted by the image in reverse once inside the building. Also it was important to continue to let natural light into the Gallery entrance vista.

This has been Flash Canberra's largest installation to date, organised and overseen by Alex Cuthbert. The National Gallery of Australia filmed and produced a time lapsed video of the complete installation, which took the best part of a day to complete. A fitting accolade to a successful project.

"The National Gallery of Australia always aspires to present works of art to their best advantage through engaging displays and promotional imagery. For Renaissance: 15th & 16th century Italian paintings from the Accademia Carrara, Bergamo we have been fortunate enough to enjoy a partnership with Flash Photobition for the delivery of the dramatic window graphics at the main entrance to the gallery. From the initial consultation when the ambitious idea was proposed, to the breath taking final product, Alex from Flash was very helpful, offering expert advice, ensuring the quality of print production, as well as overseeing the installation. Thanks to this partnership, visitors to the National Gallery can enjoy the stunning larger than life image of Saint Sebastian by Raphael as they enter the Gallery and the display also assists with significant street front exposure."

Dominique Nagy, Head of Exhibitions, National Gallery of Australia.

contact info

Alex Cuthbert, Flash Canberra, 02 6280 6166, Email

products used

Flatbed Print onto One Way Vision