Category: ART

Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers Exhibition Coming to the National Gallery in Autumn 2024

Van Gogh Starry Night

Get ready for an extraordinary art experience as the National Gallery celebrates its 200th anniversary with a major exhibition dedicated to the brilliant works of Vincent Van Gogh. “Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers” will take center stage in Autumn 2024, marking the centenary of the Gallery’s acquisition of two of Van Gogh’s most famous paintings, Sunflowers and Van Gogh’s Chair. This eagerly anticipated exhibition will be the first of its kind, focusing on Van Gogh’s imaginative transformations. With over 50 works and loans from museums and private collections worldwide, including iconic pieces from the Kröller Müller Museum in the Netherlands, the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, and the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, visitors will have the opportunity to delve into the artist’s creative process and his sources of inspiration. One of the exhibition’s primary focuses will be Van Gogh’s time in Arles and Saint-Rémy in the South of France from 1888 to 1890. Here, the artist masterfully transformed the places he encountered into idealized spaces in his art, creating a deeply resonant and poetic framework for his oeuvre. The exhibition will unveil how portraits played a vital role in Van Gogh’s artistic universe, assigning symbolic meaning to his models, such as the Poet and Lover. “Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers” will reveal the evolution of the poetical imagination and the ideas associated with love as central themes in Van Gogh’s work. In Arles, for instance, Van Gogh envisioned the public park in front of the Yellow House, where he rented four rooms, as a Poets’… Read More

Bell Shakespeare Announces 2024 Season

Bell Shakespeare actor man

For the first time in over a decade, Bell Shakespeare presents a thrilling new production of King Lear. Staging this epic work in an intimate setting promises Australian audiences a fresh and captivating experience unlike any before. Bell Shakespeare’s 2024 season also sees the triumphant return of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, set to tour at over 23 venues throughout the nation. This ambitious undertaking aims to reach areas it failed to visit in 2021 due to the pandemic-related disruptions. Artistic Director Peter Evans adds a thought-provoking dimension to the season with In A Nutshell: The Poetry of Violence, exploring Shakespeare’s depictions of violence. In an energetic statement, Artistic Director Peter Evans said, “Welcome to Season 2024, where we relish Shakespeare’s highest achievements in the ridiculous and the sublime: A Midsummer Night’s Dream and King Lear. The season promises a unique blend of the familiar and the new, comedy and tragedy, the ridiculous and the sublime.” Kicking off the season at the Sydney Opera House from 6 – 30 March, Shakespeare’s classic comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream promises magic, mirth, and mayhem. This production, which had already toured to several regional venues in Australia in 2021 before COVID border closures disrupted remaining dates, is set to return in 2024 at 23 venues across New South Wales, Western Australia, Victoria, and the ACT. After a lengthy hiatus since 2010, King Lear, directed by Peter Evans and starring Robert Menzies (Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet) in the titular role, is set to make a grand comeback. Premiering in Sydney… Read More

See Pesellino’s work at the National Gallery, London

Pesellino renaissance art

The art world is abuzz with anticipation as the National Gallery prepares to host the first-ever career-spanning exhibition dedicated to Renaissance painter Francesco Pesellino, set to open in December 2023. Active in Florence during the mid-15th century, Pesellino’s early demise at just 35 years of age and the subsequent misattribution of his surviving works have resulted in him being somewhat of an unsung hero of the Renaissance period. Born Francesco di Stefano in 1422, Pesellino was raised by his grandfather Pesello, a proficient painter in his own right, who likely sparked the young artist’s passion for the craft. Despite Pesellino’s untimely death, his legacy in the art world is undeniable, with chroniclers and historians noting his exceptional talent, especially in painting ‘cose picole’ or small things, and his propensity for collaboration. His commissions from the ruling Medici family of Florence solidified his standing within the artistic community. The National Gallery is in a unique position to present Pesellino’s work to a wider audience, with two of his undisputed masterpieces forming part of their collection. The Story of David cassone panels and the Pistoia Santa Trinità Altarpiece provide a showcase of the breadth and depth of Pesellino’s talents, from complex narratives and ceremonial splendour to meticulous detail and a keen observation of animals. Recent conservation efforts have further highlighted the intricacies of Pesellino’s work, allowing viewers to appreciate these incredible art pieces as they were intended. Dr Laura Llewellyn, Curator of Italian Paintings before 1500, opines, “Works by Pesellino are rare indeed, but at the National… Read More

The Sydney Fringe Festival: A Celebration of Independent Arts

Front row the Marvellous Elephant Man adelaide fringe 2023 © IMAGE CONSTRUCTION 242

Sydney is about to burst with colour and creativity as the Sydney Fringe Festival, the city’s largest independent arts festival, gets underway this week. With a staggering array of over 400 events spread across 12 festival hubs, the city will be taken over by a dynamic program until the 30th of September. The festival kicks off with Fringe Ignite on the 2nd of September, featuring an electrifying lineup headlined by the iconic Rogue Traders, along with live performances by The Great West, False London, MUNGMUNG, PEPTALK and DJ Victoria Anthony. Spanning theatre, music, comedy, visual art, film, musical theatre, dance, circus, street festivals, literature and poetry, the Sydney Fringe Festival is set to deliver an unforgettable offering of art and entertainment. The Spiegeltent Festival Garden is set to transform the Entertainment Quarter from the 31st of August to the 1st of October, with its centerpiece being the much-anticipated comedy, The Marvelous Elephant Man the Musical. The Sideshow will activate The Rocks with intimate shows of comedy, theatre, music, and immersive performance. The Sydney Fringe Cabaret Club returns with a program of fabulous cabaret shows, featuring Australian cabaret legend Naomi Eyers’ show GlamourPussy & The Hip Replacements. The festival’s first-ever Dance Hub will be hosted at the Neilson Studio at Sydney Dance Company from 14 – 16 September, while the Music Hub will transform the basement of the Marrickville Town Hall into a cosy listening haven across the month. The lineup includes Billie McCarthy, Green Mohair Suits, The Versace Boys x Gimme Gimme, Godriguez, and Bower…. Read More

Affordable Art Fair Returns to Australia’s Cultural Capital

Art gallery people

Mark your calendars for the much-awaited return of the Affordable Art Fair, the world’s largest art fair organiser, to Australia’s cultural capital. From Thursday, 31 August to Sunday, 3 September 2023, the fair will take over the world-heritage-listed and recently restored Royal Exhibition Building with a program set to surprise and delight art lovers. Over the course of four days, visitors can explore the vast collections of original works from more than 50 of Australia’s top boutique galleries. Moreover, they will be treated to live painting sessions, interactive workshops, and vibrant installations. The fair provides a unique opportunity for collectors and art enthusiasts to engage directly with featured artists and gallery owners. Each piece of contemporary art on display is priced under $10,000, making art ownership accessible to all. Featuring thousands of never-before-seen pieces, this year’s gallery line-up boasts some of Australia’s best regional, suburban and city galleries, with 22 making their Fair debut. Returning favourites include Salt Contemporary, Bluethumb, Tits & Co, Antoinette Ferwerda Gallery, and JUMBLED. First-time exhibitors under the Royal Exhibition Building dome include Outre Gallery, Martine Gallery, Ubu Deco, and Jackson Pensa Price Collective, among others. Adding to the line-up is one of the longest-running Aboriginal-owned galleries, Warlukurlangu Artists. Based in the Northern Territory, they will present a series of works, with 100% of sales going back to the organisation. Georgia Huestis, the Fair’s newly appointed Melbourne Director, expressed her delight at the return of the fair, promising a dynamic four-day event filled with show-stopping installations and thousands of works from… Read More

New festival in Melbourne: say ‘hello’ to Now or Never

Now or Never Berthing Place Earthing Space Theatre of Thunder

Introducing the “Now or Never” festival, a groundbreaking artistic event set to light up Melbourne with large-scale outdoor sculptural installations and projections, a 360° pop-up dome cinema and a menagerie of performances at the intersection of creativity and technology. If you were around in Melbourne almost a decade ago, you might remember White Night Melbourne? It was a city-wide music, art and sound festival that meant retailers and bars were open all night in the CBD. Think that, but for 2023. Running until the 2 September, the event will showcase the talents of over 300 local and international artists, composers, innovators, and change makers, with a line-up featuring 18 Australian premieres and 20 exclusive festival commissions. Anticipation is high, with more than 200,000 visitors expected to attend venues across the city during the 17-day festival. With over 70 innovative music performances, immersive digital art installations and thought-provoking daytime talks, the inaugural “Now or Never” program promises a journey into the convergence of art, ideas, sound, and technology, addressing the pressing questions of our future in light of the present moment. Program highlights include a 1.2-kilometre Art Trail in Docklands curated by Experimenta, immersive films in the Neversphere, a pop-up dome in the Melbourne Museum forecourt, and the return of large-scale live music to the historic Royal Exhibition Building for the first time in 20 years. The festival will also showcase an exclusive world premiere of a new composition, a multi-sensory dining experience in the Neversphere, and a series of talks and panels exploring the creativity… Read More

National Portrait Gallery unveils posthumous commission of Terry Higgins

National portrait Gallery

Don miss the unveiling of a powerful new portrait by artist Curtis Holder, in support of the Terrence Higgins Trust’s 40th anniversary. Terry Higgins – Three Ages of Terry is a posthumous work that honors the life of one of the UK’s first AIDS-related illness victims. The piece depicts Terry as a teenager, a young man, and in his final weeks before his death, with a multilayered and delicately sketched style that captures his humanity, physicality, and sexuality. The portrait is set to be displayed at the National Portrait Gallery’s Making the Modern World gallery when it reopens on June 22nd, and it will be the first portrait of Terry Higgins and the first work by Curtis Holder to enter the gallery’s collection. The portrait is a testament to Terrence Higgins Trust’s ongoing fight for change in the face of HIV and AIDS, raising awareness and helping to destigmatize the virus. By showcasing the stages of Higgins’ life, the portrait offers a snapshot into the impact he made during his time and pays tribute to his passions and vulnerabilities. The palette is limited to hues of mostly red, a reference to the now-familiar symbol of the red ribbon, a universal symbol of awareness and support for people living with HIV. This incredible portrait is not only a celebration of Terry Higgins but also a testament to the power of art to capture the essence of a person’s life and legacy. So make sure to head to the National Portrait Gallery when it reopens on June… Read More

Australia’s Darwin Festival is back!

Darwin Festival

The 2023 Darwin Festival is set to ignite the Australian arts scene with 18 days of spectacular performances from local talents, national and international artists, and a range of shows that will delight both tourists and locals. From August 10 to August 27, the festival will feature over 80 events spread across 28 venues, with more than 850 artists from the NT, Australia, and overseas taking the stage. Music lovers will have plenty of options to choose from, with performances from a diverse range of genres on offer. The INPEX Sunset Stage in Festival Park, one of the Territory’s most popular open-air venues, will host a dynamic line-up of live music, featuring Aboriginal women from Groote Eylandt and Dr. Shellie Morris’s Yarnumamalya Ayangkidarrbalangwa, ’90s rock legends Regurgitator, ARIA-winning Budjerah, dance-pop mavericks Haiku Hands, Unearthed High winner Jacotene, Arnhem Land’s rising star Yirrmal, and History of House, a musical journey through disco, pop, and house, with DJ Groove Terminator and Soweto Gospel Choir. The closing weekend of the festival will take place at the iconic Darwin Ski Club, featuring a mesmerising waterfront concert by Queensland virtuoso Katie Noonan performing Joni Mitchell’s Blue, and a musical journey led by The Whitlams Black Stump Band, revisiting cherished hits and debuting new originals. Apart from live music, the festival boasts an impressive roster of events across theatre, comedy, dance, cabaret, visual arts, and family-oriented shows. The 17-year-old National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs) will showcase the diversity and achievements of First Nations musicians and foster the careers of acclaimed artists…. Read More

Cooee Art, Australia’s indigenous art hub is opening a new chapter

Artist Neil Tomkins Arts Worker Rickie Tjungurrayi and Artist Isaiah Tjungurrayi Lewis

Australia’s oldest Indigenous gallery, Cooee Art, has announced its relaunch as Art Leven, marking a new chapter for the gallery under the leadership of long-term owner and Director Mirri Leven. While maintaining its focus on First Nations art, Art Leven will showcase non-Indigenous alongside First Nations artists through specially curated individual projects. The new vision prioritises transparent dialogue, fostering an environment of openness and direct exchanges between artists, and collaborating with First Nations curators, art centres and represented artists. Art Leven’s inaugural exhibition, curated by Gadigal artist Kate Constantine, will showcase works from the Northern Territory Warlpiri community of Lajamanu with themes centred around the craft of landscape painting and exploring ways of seeing and translating land and Country. The exhibition will be held at the bespoke gallery space located in Gadial Country, Sydney Redfern, on Thursday, July 27, 2023. To facilitate the project, Art Leven recently organized a weeklong painting workshop at Warnayaka Arts in the remote NT town of Lajamanu, featuring Sydney artist Neil Ernest Tomkins and Warlpiri artist Kitty Napanagka Simon. Through this project, Art Leven hopes to bridge the gap and encourage exchange between Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists, promoting an environment of openness, transparency, and communication. In honouring Cooee Art’s legacy as Australia’s oldest Indigenous gallery, Art Leven aims to broaden the gallery’s program and invite audiences of the wider Australian and Western art world into a more intimate and understanding appreciation of First Nations’ artists, past, and present. By showcasing two non-Gadigal artists for its first show, Art Leven seeks… Read More

Become a part of the National Gallery London this summer

National Gallery artist

The National Gallery‘s Artist in Residence, Céline Condorelli, is creating a new exhibition from September 13, 2023, to January 7, 2024, that will feature various installations inspired by the Gallery’s iconic collections. Visitors can enjoy a new work of art by reclining on the floor of one of the Gallery’s most imposing rooms and admiring the new 25-by-64-metre textile sculpture on the ceiling. Additionally, visitors can hear field recordings and everyday voices of Trafalgar Square through a new audio work that connects the inside of the Gallery with the world outside. Céline Condorelli, who lives and works in London, focuses on bridging the boundaries between public and private, art and function, work and leisure, to reimagine the culture and society’s role of artists within them. She is the third Artist in Residence chosen since the launch of the National Gallery’s new Modern and Contemporary Programme. Condorelli’s work responds to the visitors’ experiences of looking at art by addressing the historical significance of furnishings and picture hangings, the use of carpets for children during storytelling activities, and scanning and imaging technologies pioneered by the Gallery’s scientific department. Moreover, she reflects on how visitors engage with art and spaces in the Gallery. Céline Condorelli’s residency will culminate in a publication and a display featuring her work at the National Gallery. With the support of the Contemporary Art Society, one of the works relating to the residency will enter RAMM’s collection. The Artist in Residence program is sponsored by Hiscox and is a collaboration between the National Gallery,… Read More