Category: ART

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

Carriageworks’ new artist-led nights program in Sydney

Carriageworks arts

Carriageworks, one of Australia’s leading contemporary multi-arts organizations, has just announced its latest program, Carriageworks Nights. The new program features a diverse line-up of talented artists, performers, musicians, and producers who are pushing the boundaries of their respective art forms. Across 10 events, Carriageworks Nights invites audiences to gather after dark for a series of artist-led evenings, spanning performance, music, film and food. When does the Carriageworks Nights program kick off? The program kicks off on Thursday 11 May with Jazz Money and Jason Phu’s “Silly Silly Party.” Taking place in the Blacksmith’s Workshop, the evening promises to be an interactive experience featuring big bubbles, bad face painting by Jason Phu, mystic readings, magicians, and giant games. The night will also include hands-on activities such as a superhero cape making workshop with artist Dennis Golding, and weaving with writer and artist Anne-Marie Te Whiu. A free event for all ages, Silly Silly Party invites everyone to let loose and have a silly time. On Thursday 25 May, artist Frances Barrett presents “Mouth,” a night focused on the voice presented at the Clothing Store Artist Studios. Through poetry, improvised performance, and song, audiences are invited to explore the slipperiness, multiplicity, and power of the voice with artists Sage Pbbbt, Jo Fabro, Tina Stefanou, Sonya Holowell, BLECK, and Tarik Ahlip performing under simulated moonlight. Carriageworks Nights events continue over three months, including video artist and curator EO Gill, who presents “Softcore,” a drive-in cinema featuring rare and classic experimental films. Artists Sidney McMahon, Mistress Tokyo, Demon Derriere,… Read More

Melbourne Design Fair 2023 launches at Melbourne

Melbourne Design Fair woman art

Design enthusiasts in Melbourne are in for a treat, as the annual Melbourne Design Fair has launched at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) and will run until May 21. This year’s event is set to be bigger and better than ever before, featuring the work of more than 150 designers across 60+ presentations from all Australian states and territories. Visitors will have the chance to view and purchase one-of-a-kind, limited edition, and small batch design production, including furniture, lighting, and contemporary jewelry. The fair showcases some of the most cutting-edge designs from established and emerging designers, providing an impressive range of designs that appeal to both collectors and the general public alike. The Melbourne Design Fair features several feature group presentations, including Agency, ALM, Australian Tapestry Workshop, Craft Victoria, C. Gallery, Leonard Joel, MARS Gallery, Modern Times, OIGALL PROJECTS, Origine, Sophie Gannon Gallery, Stanley Street Gallery, Broached Commissions, and Sullivan+Strumpf, among others. Visitors can expect to see a wide range of exciting and innovative designs from these groups. One of the highlights of this year’s Melbourne Design Fair is the new section dedicated to contemporary jewelry presentations. The fair also includes an NGV-curated exhibition, FOCUS, which brings attention to the work of five accomplished Australian female designers and makers. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn about their creative processes and inspirations. In addition to the exhibitions, the TALKS series, presented by Major Partner Mercedes-Benz, offers visitors the opportunity to gain a deeper appreciation of the culture of collectible design while learning how… Read More

Sydney Contemporary art fair returns to Carriageworks Sydney

Sydney Contemporary art fair

Sydney Contemporary is back, and it’s bigger than ever! This art fair, established in 2013, regularly attracts over 25,000 visitors and has recorded more than AU$100 million in art sales since its launch. This year, the fair will feature 96 emerging and established galleries from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Indonesia, and Singapore, making it the pre-eminent meeting place for the art world in Australasia. It will run from September 7th-10th, 2023, at Carriageworks, Australia’s largest multi-arts center. Presented in partnership with MA Financial Group, Sydney Contemporary is proud to promote contemporary art, provide a platform for over 500 emerging and established artists, and offer visitors the chance to experience the best of Australian, Indigenous, and international art. The Galleries will showcase artists from over 35 countries, including Australia, China, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. The fair highlights not to be missed include presentations from Alcaston Gallery, Chalk Horse, Gow Langsford Gallery, and Yavuz Gallery, as well as solo presentations by acclaimed British artist Antony Gormley, Yol?u artist Dhambit Munu?gurr, and Australian photographer Murray Fredericks. The fair will feature an expanded footprint of galleries, programming, and supporting events, including installations, performances, and talks. For collectors and the art-loving public alike, Sydney Contemporary promises an incredible week of art, not to be missed. Tickets are available for purchase online at https://sydneycontemporary.com.au/.

Lindy Lee’s Latest Exhibition: A Deep Dive into Humanity, Nature and the Cosmos

SUllivan Strumpf art 1

Sullivan+Strumpf is proud to announce their forthcoming exhibition featuring new works by acclaimed Chinese-Australian artist, Lindy Lee. “Lindy Lee: A tree more ancient than the forest it stands in” will be on display at their Zetland, Sydney premises from Thursday, May 4, until Saturday, May 27, 2023. Known for her contribution to contemporary art in Australia, Lee has gained international recognition over the years with her works increasingly moving into the public domain. She has undertaken numerous large-scale public commissions throughout Australia and internationally that focus on creating spaces of belonging and community. The upcoming exhibition presents an exciting opportunity to experience Lee’s latest creations in a more intimate gallery setting. Lee’s multi-disciplinary practice delves into the connections between humanity, nature, and the cosmos, and her process is one of co-creation with the universe. The artist interprets elemental materials of fire, water, metal, and wood, crafting her works accordingly. Informed by her evolving sense of self, as well as Daoism and Ch’an (Zen) Buddhism philosophies, Lee’s diverse works have garnered international recognition for translating and transmuting deeply personal experiences into the universal. Her works evoke a sense of wonder and intimate connection to existence. “In a career spanning more than 40 years, Lee has exhibited in over 150 exhibitions around Australia and internationally. She has created more than 40 public artworks, including large-scale sculptural commissions,” said a Sullivan+Strumpf spokesperson. The exhibition will showcase Lee’s latest body, including new sculptural forms in steel, bronze, and wood, in addition to works on paper. It’s the perfect opportunity… Read More

ALERT: The Other Art Fair is coming to Sydney

the other art fair sydney

Whether you’re at the age where you know your tastes well enough to dip the toe into buying real art, or you just like to discover cool people doing cool things first, The Other Art Fair is the one showcase you can’t miss. Coming to Sydney from 11-14 May at The Cutaway at Barangaroo Reserve, you’ll have the chance to find art that is for everyone. We promise, at The Other Art Fair, there’s no haughty ‘who you know’ vibes. With over 130 artists, unforgettable art experiences and a few surprises, The Other Art Fair continues its mission to reframe art and how it’s enjoyed: offering a fair that’s inclusive, evocative and inspiring, with a vibrant program filled with features, workshops, immersive installations, DJs – and of course a fully stocked bar. “With a program that is diverse and jam-packed, there is truly something for everyone,” says LukePotkin, Fair Director. Highlights Sydney-based Illustrator and graphic artist Aley Wild and her Illicit Illustrations, and thought-provoking works such as ‘Just Curious’ by young performance artists with disabilities. Things not to miss: Illicit Illustrations with Aley Wild: Come visit Aley during the fair and strike a pose with your object of choice and Aley will create for you your very own slightly-naughty nude to take away with you. ‘Just Curious’ – featured performance artwork: The Other Art Fair debuts ‘Just Curious’, a brand new performance and installation work created by young artists with disabilities, in partnership with Together2 Youth Theatre. The work will give visitors the opportunity to… Read More