Inflatable penguins and Trump tweets: Triennial is back

An array of foil inflatable penguins, life-size chess and a display of conspiracy theories alongside LED Trump tweets are part of a free blockbuster exhibition set to take Australia's culture capital by storm.

The Triennial exhibition features more than 80 works by nearly 100 artists, designers and collectives from across the globe, and will open at the National Gallery of Victoria in December.

It's set to offer something for everyone, from young children to adults, and Danish artist Benedikte Bjerre's The Birds is sure to be a standout.

The interactive installation fills a large gallery space with helium-filled foil inflatable penguins and, while playful and eye-catching, it does carry a deeper meaning.

Artgoers are invited to interact with the work, picking up the penguins and watching them slowly float back to the ground.

"The Birds takes its title from Alfred Hitchcock's classic horror film, and itself is commentary on the destruction of the penguin's natural habitat as our climate crisis continues," NGV contemporary art senior curator Sophie Oxenbridge told AAP.

"While it can appear fun and playful, it also demonstrates the ability for art to explore some of the world's more pressing issues."

Other works include Jenny Holzer's sculpture, WTF, a suspended, swinging LED sign, displaying online posts by a conspiracy theorist alongside tweets from US President Donald Trump during his first term.

The sign swings in an unpredictable rhythm across the gallery, in an attempt to show the chaotic patterns of digital conversation.

Deeper within the exhibition, patrons will encounter 32 human-height chess pieces created by Melbourne-based artist Louise Paramor, where they can take part in games and competitions.

Triennial spans four levels, with two artworks set to impress patrons upon entry.

Wunambal Gaambera/Worrora artist Angelina Karadada Boona will take over NGV's waterwall with her signature Wandjina figures, powerful ancestral beings associated with rain and clouds.

Lebanese-French artist Najla El Zein is set to transform the NGV's forecourt, with a major outdoor sculpture designed for public gatherings.

The sculpture's carved limestone forms encourages audiences to sit, touch, rest, recline, gather and play.

NGV director Tony Ellwood believes the exhibition gives audiences the chance to reflect on their own rapidly changing lives and culture.

"Through art and design, the Triennial presents an opportunity to learn, understand and contemplate a world in flux, as well as our place within it," he said.

The 2026 NGV Triennial will be on display from December 13 to April 11, 2027 at NGV International.