Dresden Dolls drop in

Today, GOMA received a surprise visit from Amanda Palmer of Brechtian punk cabaret duo the Dresden Dolls. In Brisbane ahead of the Dolls’ show at The Tivoli tonight, Amanda threw one of her impromptu ‘ninja gigs’ on the Maiwar Green, to the delight of fans, and possibly the bewilderment of unsuspecting passers-by.

Armed with her trusty ukulele, she treated the crowd to her musings on pop art with ‘Gaga Palmer Madonna’ and a heartbreaking cover of Radiohead’s ‘Creep’ before being joined by Dresden Dolls compatriot Brian Viglione for a rousing conga line version of their ‘Coin-Operated Boy’ and a touching finale of ‘Amazing Grace’.

Amanda was drawn to GOMA by global attention received by Yayoi Kusama’s The obliteration room installation over the past few days, thanks largely to design blog Colossal. Part of GOMA’s current survey exhibition ‘Yayoi Kusama: Look Now, See Forever’, The obliteration room played host to Amanda and a lucky group of colour-coded fans.

No stranger to the art world, Amanda recently recorded an audio guide for the exhibition ‘Degas and the Nude’ at the Museum of Fine Art in her part-time home town of Boston.

Installation views of The obliteration room 2011 as part of ‘Yayoi Kusama: Look Now, See Forever’, Gallery of Modern Art, 2011 / © Yayoi Kusama, Yayoi Kusama Studio Inc. / All photographs: Natasha Harth

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