One raise of her shoulder says more than 40 poets could

An effective art exhibition should hint at the sophistication of a bygone age, raise questions about "mysterious" models, leave you humbled before a lifesize bronze statue, include a hue impossible to categorise as either blue or green, have you searching painted shadows for hidden detail, be seasoned with a dash of pretention, remind you of visiting cousins in a country town, blur the line between religious imagery and fairytale fantasy, turn twilights into alien worlds, successfully reinvent trees to resemble wisps of smoke, not explain everything, cause you to contemplate - for just a second - the logistics of art theft, seduce with its beauty, disturb with its horror, deserve to be walked through again, and linger in the mind's eye. "Australian Symbolism: The Art Of Dreams" at the Art Gallery Of NSW is such an exhibition.