Category: ARTS & CULTURE

Keep celebrating the Platinum Jubilee: Windsor Castle has a new exhibition

And it’s all portraiture, photographs and items of Her Majesty’s dress and jewellery, including the Coronation Dress, Robe of Estate and the Coronation Necklace and Earrings. Paying homage to Her Majesty and her sensational 70 years on the throne, the exhibition will give you unfettered access to the Queen at a time when her life changed. The Queen’s Coronation, which took place at Westminster Abbey on 2 June 1953, was one of the most significant occasions of the 20th century. The event was a source of national celebration, seen to usher in a new age of progress and a spirit of optimism in post-war Britain. Three million people lined the processional route in London and many more took part in church services and street parties across the country. An estimated 27 million people – over half of the UK population – watched the Coronation service on television, while a further 11 million listened to the radio broadcast. All the Queen’s brooches If there’s one thing you’d’ve noticed about Queen Elizabeth, is that she loves a brooch. This exhibition will have a great number of them and display them for the first time is a group of four brooches belonging to Her Majesty, each representing a nation of the United Kingdom, with a sprig of shamrock for Northern Ireland, sprays of daffodils for Wales, thistles for Scotland and roses for England. The brooches are made of gold, set with white, pink and yellow diamonds and, for the shamrock, emeralds.  The Queen has worn these brooches on numerous occasions, often… Read More

London’s Royal Academy of Arts announces Charles Wollaston Award winner 2022

Good news for independent and emerging artists as this year’s Royal Academy’s 254th Summer Exhibition and Charles Wollaston Award has a new winner! Uta Kögelsberger took out the position for her video work, Cull, a 5-channel video installation that follows the gigantic task of the clear-up process after the devastating impact of bushfires. It charts the efforts of the teams responsible for cutting down the dead trees left standing, that are now endangering the remaining structures and roads. In a metaphor for the suspended sense of emergency we find ourselves in, each tree is documented as it comes crashing to the ground, seemingly out of nowhere, like dead carcasses, sometimes falling with such force that the earth beneath them shake. Uta won the £25,000 prize for the Charles Wollaston Award, recognising ‘most distinguished work’ in the exhibition and is one of the most significant art prizes awarded in the UK. For more and to pay it a visit, head to the Royal Academy of Arts website

Homegrown talent to see at Sydney Opera House this spring in La Traviata by Opera Australia

If there’s one soprano you need to see in your life, either while living in or visiting Sydney, it’s Melbourne’s own Stacey Alleaume. She’s a rocket of a singer that is more often than not, found up front-and-centre in many of Opera Australia’s annual productions. And it’s easy to see why… Stacey was proclaimed a star when she sang Violetta in the 2021 Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour production of La Traviata and last month received more glowing reviews for her main-stage debut as Violetta at Arts Centre Melbourne. Along with Stacey, soprano Irina Lungu will open the second stage of the Sydney season on 22 October, singing her signature role of Violetta in Australia for the first time, having sung the role across Europe, the UK and Tokyo, including receiving rave reviews in 2019 at the Vienna State Opera. Along with a range of other singers, the spread of what’s on from Opera Australia is – as per usual – internationally acclaimed, and will shine the light on the best of Australia’s arts and music scene from the lens of Opera Australia. Here’s a full run-down of the Opera Australia winter season for 2022. For more and to book tickets to La Traviata, head to the Opera Australia website. What is La Traviata about? Opera Australia explains it as a tragic love story that inspired pop culture classics Moulin Rouge and Pretty Woman, Verdi’s famous score includes the show-stopping aria ‘Sempre libera’ and the instantly recognisable drinking song, ‘Brindisi’. Combined with lavish sets and costumes,… Read More

National Gallery London begins countdown to 200th birthday with Bicentenary celebration

People gathered around front door of National Gallery Trafalgar Square

2022 it seems, is the year of milestones and celebrations. If Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee wasn’t reason enough to celebrate all that’s wholesome and likeable about the UK, then perhaps the news that the Nation’s favourite Western-style gallery, the National Gallery of Trafalgar Square is turning 200 years old. And they’ve got a lot planned to celebrate it. The countdown’s on to 10 May 2024 when the institution hits the milestone. What will it do with this time? Celebrate its past and look forward to the future with a year-long festival of art, creativity and imagination which sets the tone for its third century, of course! And the best bit is everyone’s invited. The celebrations will extend from in-to-outside the Gallery, encouraging visitors to London and locals to participate, view, engage and learn. “We will make it easier than ever for everyone to share a space with some of the greatest paintings in the world. From seeing a real work in the context of your local museum or gallery to enjoying a dive into the virtual history of the nation’s collection, everyone can find new ways to connect with art,” says the Gallery. Here’s a run-down of what’s on to look forward to. Dates and more info to come from the National Gallery website MORE: See the Raphael exhibition at the National Gallery until 31 July The Gallery across the nation   The National Gallery is going national, taking key elements of its 2000+ strong collection to areas all over the UK.  NG200: National Treasures  12… Read More

Sydney’s favourite chicken joint BUTTER teams up with Spotify A1 for limited edition eats

If you’ve ever been to BUTTER, Sydney’s hottest chicken shop, you’ll know it’s hard to go past the classics. However thanks to a new partnership with Spotify you will be quickly forgetting the famous Cheezus burger and opting for the new limited edition bites. BUTTER and Spotify have teamed up to launch the BUTTER x Spotify A1 menu. Inspired by local hip-hop artists A.Girl, ChillinIT and Day1, the uber popular A1 playlist and talent has lead to BUTTER feast for the ears and mouth with limited edition menu items from $25  such as: ChillinIT Canadian Sandwich Fried chicken burger with Chivas maple BBQ sauce, maple bacon, cheese, mayo and fries in the sandwich A.GIRL Nashville Sandwich Nashville spiced fried chicken sandwich with buttermilk ranch, fried runny egg and lettuce  (note: excludes egg at Surry Hills store) Day 1 Fried Chicken Snack Pack 2 fried chicken tenders with mozzarella, house Spicy BBQ sauce and spicy mayo on a bed of fries Upgrades to include the divine cinnamon donuts and drinks, plus a family box also available if you want to go all out.  “We’re so hyped to be working with Spotify’s A1 and some of our favourite and diverse local hip hop community artists to create our limited edition menu. We hope that Sydneysiders love the delicious A1 menu – we’ve had a great time working closely with ChillinIT, A.GIRL and Day1 to bring this to life.” – Julian Cincotta, Owner, Exec Chef and COO at BUTTER Sydney Get your mouths around it for two weeks… Read More

A new kind of Madame Butterfly flies into Sydney Opera House

Madame Butterfly Sydney Opera Australia geisha

The Madam is back – and this time with a whole new experience for the most seasoned of opera-goers amongst us. For the longest time, the production from the inner sanctum of creativity that was the mind of now retired artistic director Moffat Oxenbould that saw the Madam take to a traditionally Japanese-inspired set, perforated throughout with animated, faceless avatars captured hearts and minds in each and every production between Sydney and Melbourne. MORE: Here’s what we thought of Phantom of the Opera by Opera Australia But now, the Madam will be treated to a shake-up of the 21st century variety. A few years back, Opera Australia invested in some ten-metre tall digital screens that are as interactive as they are mobile, suspended from the ceiling of the Joan Sutherland Theatre stage and able to be positioned in any way the new creative direction dictates. These will be used to full effect in this 2022-and-on production of Madame Butterfly, allowing for a complete re-imagining of Puccini’s masterpiece as a complete dystopian masterpiece. MORE: About The Marriage of Figaro by Opera Australia Surprisingly stark but beautiful, the creative dream team of director/choreographers Graeme Murphy andJanet Vernon, designer Michael Scott-Mitchell, costume designer Jennifer Irwin and video designer SeanNieuwenhuis crafted a Butterfly unlike any other production seen in Australia. It’ll be captivating, dynamic, symbolistic and come complete with a backdrop and towering robotic servants with which the singers interact. Striking costume designs draw on a range of eras, from burlesque to cartoons and sci fi. Is Madame Butterfly… Read More

Date nights for VIVID Sydney in 2022

If you’re not climbing up Sydney Harbour Bridge or getting together at one of the many gin opportunities that lie before you this VIVID Sydney 2022, then perhaps date night’s on the cards. The Harbour View Hotel is putting on the festival of lights and visual art in their own way. And by offering delicious takeaway meals with drinks so there’s no need to worry about dinner before exploring the exhibitions around The Rocks. The Harbour View Hotel will be launching a special pop-up glow bar, serving glow in the dark cocktails outside their historic venue in The Rocks. This limited edition glow bar will be available throughout Vivid (from 27th May until 18th June), making it easy to sip on cocktails while you take in the stunning light installations of Vivid.  The Harbour View Hotel will also be selling takeaway packs so you can wander through The Rocks and find the perfect picnic spot overlooking the harbour and Vivid lights. The Harbour View Hotel Vivid Takeaway pack (for $95) includes: Antipasto for 2 Stir fried noodles with chicken bites and capsicum x 2 Flatbread bread with roasted capsicum dipping sauce  x 2  4 x Smirnoff Seltzers  1 x Blanket For more information, head to the Harbour View website

Meet Alexander McQueen at NGV International: man behind the Mind, Mythos, Muse

From 11 December to 16 April, you’ve got the chance to get more familiar with one of the most significant fashion designers of the late twentieth century, who was lauded for his conceptual and technical virtuosity. McQueen’s critically acclaimed collections synthesised his proficiency in tailoring and dressmaking with encyclopaedic and autobiographical visual references that spanned time, geography, media and technology. Organised by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), in partnership with the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse is the first major Australian exhibition to explore the work of this boundary-pushing fashion designer. Showcasing 60 garments and accessories drawn from LACMA’s holdings of important works by McQueen, the Melbourne presentation also features nearly 50 designs by McQueen from the NGV Collection, making this Australian-exclusive presentation especially rich and comprehensive. Offering an unprecedented insight into the mind of this seminal designer, McQueen’s work is presented alongside more than 70 historical artworks including painting, sculpture, photography, decorative arts and works on paper from the collections of LACMA and NGV, that reveal the myriad reference points that influenced his designs. The juxtaposition of garments and artworks highlights McQueen’s creative process and capacity for storytelling, as well as offering audiences an opportunity to gain a deeper appreciation of his artistic legacy and the nature of inspiration. So, now you’re sold, get more info and tickets at the NGV website

What to do this Queen’s Jubilee at the National Gallery London

National Gallery Jubilee

The most incredible time in the history of the UK – well, one of the – is upon us; Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee! And if you’re not heading to the Mall for the Trooping The Colour parade, or heading to any of the other celebrations around London and the UK, then maybe a visit to the National Gallery is on the cards. Here’s a taste of what’s on… Fit for a Queen: Symbols and Values of Sovereignty  An innovative virtual exhibition for everyone, anywhere to enjoy online, free. The wonders of digital will bring together a display of 28 National Gallery masterpieces – from Hans Holbein the Younger to Peter Paul Rubens and Jan Gossaert to Anthony van Dyck – curated by Susanna Avery-Quash. The display will explore images of female rulers from different epochs and countries as well as images that relate to some of the attributes most frequently associated with queenship in the past and present. Online visitors can navigate themselves around the virtual gallery, zooming in close to explore the 3D images of the diverse works of art on display. Click on the panel next to the picture to listen to an audio guide for each painting. Fit for a Queen: Symbolism and Values of Queenship will be live from Thursday 2 June 2022. Collections There will be a special Jubilee tour through the Gallery with wall labels, linked to Fit for a Queen: Symbolism and Values of Queenship.  It will also draw attention to important pictures Her Majesty has generously… Read More

Picasso at the National Gallery London: Face to Face

For the first time ever, a painting by Pablo Picasso ‘Woman with a Book’, 1932 from the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, California and the painting by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, ‘Madame Moitessier’, 1856, which famously inspired it, will be shown side by side at the National Gallery, London as part of a special collaboration between the two museums. After debuts of the sensational and influential work by Artemisia Gentileschi, Picasso’s welcome to the halls of the Gallery comes at only too good a time, after the lockdowns of the world have ended and the doors of all public buildings have been thrown open. This exhibition is an opportunity to explore Picasso’s enduring affinity with Ingres, and his ability to reference or ‘steal’ previous artist’s work which he famously acknowledged when he said: ‘Lesser artists borrow; great artists steal.’* It will provide visitors with a unique opportunity to compare the two works and to engage with these masterpieces in a different way. Exhibition organised by the National Gallery, London and the Norton Simon Museum of Art at Pasadena. Following its display in London, the exhibition will be on view at the Norton Simon Museum of Art 21 October 2022– 30 January 2023. For more info and to arrange a visit, go to the National Gallery website