Miffy & Friends

Bunjil Place Gallery proudly welcomes iconic design exhibition miffy & friends, featuring the work of Dutch illustrator, Dick Bruna (1927-2017) to Melbourne. Captivating children and adults alike for over 65 years, the iconic figure of Miffy features in a major, free exhibition coming to Melbourne for the very first time, following the exhibition’s stellar launch at Brisbane’s QUT Art Museum late last year.

Miffy was first created by Bruna as a bedtime story for his son in 1955. The little white bunny, or ‘nijntje’ as she is known in Dutch, has evolved from her life as a children’s book character into a globally-recognised and universally loved design icon.

miffy & friends presents original drawings and illustrations loaned from Bruna’s estate, Mercis bv in Amsterdam, to explore his aesthetic influences and, in turn, how he has influenced generations of artists.

While deceptively simple, the character of Miffy is grounded in the ideas of 20th century avant-garde art, reflecting ideas of abstractionism and colour theory. With her pared back details and purity of line, Miffy embodies a universal language of minimalism.

The exhibition places Miffy alongside the work of seven of Australia’s most exciting contemporary artists who find the ideas encapsulated in Bruna’s figure of Miffy as inspiration for their own artistic practice.

The inclusion of work by Stephen Bird, Sadie Chandler, Nadia Hernández, Carla McRae, Nell, Brian Robinson, and Vipoo Srivilasa, representing some of the biggest talent in contemporary art, firmly places the exhibition within an Australian context.

Exhibition curator Vanessa Van Ooyen comments that miffy & friends is a celebration of people coming together to share in the joys of art: “Miffy perfectly captures the Dutch concept of gezelligheid, which isn’t a word easily translated into English but is about a feeling, of coming together with loved ones and a general ‘togetherness’ that gives people a sense of belonging and mutual understanding.”

Sure to delight Miffy fans across Melbourne and beyond, the exhibition instils a love of art in audiences of all ages, making a lasting impression on all who cross her path. Bunjil Place Gallery is honoured to share the timeless simplicity of miffy and friends in Melbourne this autumn.