Tag: Sydney arts

What to expect at Biennale of Sydney

Sydney Biennale dancer

The vibrant city is set to host the 24th edition of the Biennale of Sydney, aptly titled “Ten Thousand Suns,” from 9 March to 10 June 2024. As a free public event, it shines as a beacon of contemporary artistic expression and is the largest of its kind in Australia. Art enthusiasts will be drawn to venues like the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Artspace, the Chau Chak Wing Museum at the University of Sydney, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, the Sydney Opera House, and the revitalized White Bay Power Station to experience this cultural phenomenon. Led by artistic directors Cosmin Costina? and Inti Guerrero, “Ten Thousand Suns” invites celebration into its core, weaving joy with the threads of collective resistance and unity against historical injustices. Taking inspiration from First Nations technology, Queer resilience, and global carnival traditions, the festival delves into the current climate emergency while steadfastly rejecting a dystopian vision of the future. This year, marking the Biennale’s 50th anniversary, the program challenges the western narrative of an apocalyptic end and chooses to embrace a future filled with collaborative joy and shared success. The festival will feature 96 artists and collectives hailing from over 50 countries, each bringing a personal touch rooted in diverse communities and artistic vernaculars. Many of the artworks act as commentaries on global issues while honoring the power of personal and collective stories. One featured commission is Yankunytjatjara artist Kaylene Whiskey’s ‘Kaylene TV,’ a testament to her joyous and unique vision, displayed on a grand scale. The Fondation… Read More

Sydney Dance Company Celebrates Tenth Anniversary of New Breed

Sydney Dance COmpany

Sydney Dance Company, in collaboration with Carriageworks and supported by Principal Partner The Balnaves Foundation, is thrilled to announce the 10th anniversary of its highly-anticipated New Breed programme. As we look forward to the world premiere of the commissioned works from four dynamic Australian dance makers at Carriageworks from December 6-16, 2023, we can’t help but reflect on the significant impact of this initiative. New Breed 2023 provides an unparalleled opportunity for Australian choreographers to create a newly commissioned piece with Australia’s leading contemporary dance company. Since its inception in 2014, New Breed has propelled 35 emerging artists to showcase their fresh ideas and raw talent on a world stage, solidifying its reputation as Australia’s premier platform for emerging choreographers. This year’s innovative programme will feature works from Beau Dean Riley Smith, Eliza Cooper, Riley Fitzgerald, and Tra Mi Dinh. Smith, an award-winning dancer, choreographer and actor, will present his work gubba, an exploration of Australia’s frontier wars and the violent history of colonial Australia. Cooper’s work critiques the reality she sees around her, using the iconic Spaghetti Western film genre as a lens. Fitzgerald’s Everyb0dy’s g0t a b0mb draws inspiration from the music festival Woodstock ‘99, while Dinh’s piece illuminates the moments between day and night, capturing the transformation of light across the sky in real time. Sydney Dance Company Artistic Director, Rafael Bonachela, shared his excitement about the upcoming works: “Over the last ten years, New Breed has been instrumental in supporting the early careers of some of Australia’s most exciting emerging dancemakers…. Read More

Why you should care that the Sydney Biennale is back

Biennale Symbols

This year, the vibrant city of Sydney, Australia, is set to play host to the 24th edition of the esteemed Biennale of Sydney. Titled ‘Ten Thousand Suns,’ this major international art festival will run from the 9th of March to the 10th of June, 2024. Being the largest contemporary art event of its kind in Australia, the Biennale showcases an impressive lineup of 88 artists and collectives, hailing from 47 different countries, all coming together to celebrate and explore various themes through the medium of contemporary art. The event will span multiple locations, including the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Artspace, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, and for the first time, the Chau Chak Wing Museum at the University of Sydney, UNSW Galleries and the iconic and recently restored White Bay Power Station. Under the artistic direction of Cosmin Costina? and Inti Guerrero, the 24th Biennale of Sydney proposes ‘celebration’ as both a method and a source of joy. Drawing inspiration from legacies of collective resistance and unity in the face of injustice, the event features a core exhibition of contemporary art that delves into themes ranging from the resurgence of First Nations technologies and knowledges, the history of Islam in Australia, Queer resilience, and the international expression of Carnivale, to the atomic era and human-induced climate alteration. Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Biennale of Sydney, this edition challenges Western fatalistic views of the apocalypse, fostering a hopeful outlook around a future lived in joy and shared widely. The 2024 edition will… Read More

Dive into the Darkness: Unravel the Mysteries of Sydney Spiegeltent’s MANSION

Spiegeltent Sydney woman dance

Sydney’s most enchanting and provocative entertainment venue, Sydney Spiegeltent, announces the exciting extension of its captivating season through 2024. Known for its daring and avant-garde performances, the iconic Spiegeltent is all set to mesmerize audiences with award-winning shows for many more nights. Get ready for a chillingly erotic experience this October as the MANSION makes its seductive debut in the Sydney Spiegeltent. From October 25th to November 19th, audiences will be swept into a thrilling world that combines gothic horror, intoxicating dance, spine-chilling aerial acts, and sultry burlesque performances. Expect a heart-thumping storyline that follows the newly widowed Mel Walker and her children, who unknowingly step into an ominous old Mansion filled with seductive spirits and demonic desires. The terrifying allure of MANSION is perfectly complemented by WITCH, a compelling 30-minute prelude performance available for a mere $35 extra. WITCH introduces audiences to the Mansion’s previous inhabitants through hypnotic burlesque, circus, and dance, posing a haunting question about the nature of monsters, victims, and mirrors of our own selves. Brought to you by the inventive minds of Bass Fam, creators of the award-winning shows MATADOR and ORACLE, MANSION is a tantalizing blend of alluring dance, scintillating burlesque, and thrilling acrobatics, which has left audiences and critics nationwide spellbound. Bask under the twinkling festoons of Sydney Spiegeltent, nestled in Sydney’s vibrant inner east, where the best of cabaret, circus, and theatre come alive. Not only can patrons enjoy the performances, but they are also treated to an eclectic mix of crafted cocktails, show-girl strength G&T’s, and… Read More

What to look forward to at VIVID Sydney this year

Vivid Sydney

Get excited because Vivid Sydney is back for its 13th year and the opening night was nothing short of spectacular. The night featured a Welcome to Country ceremony, fireworks, drone shows and a Lighting of the Sails at the iconic Sydney Opera House. Indigenous artists representing different language groups added a special touch to the ceremony with an incredible performance. The festival will run for 23 days and will showcase over 300 events featuring the world’s most innovative artists, talented musicians and thought leaders. This year’s theme, ‘Vivid Sydney, Naturally,’ celebrates Mother Nature as the master creator of all things beautiful. You can expect to be blown away by the stunning art installations that are inspired by nature, among other things. Australia’s largest event has expanded to become a world-class program shining a light on all cultural aspects of the city and drawing in visitors from all over the world. With a variety of activations and events happening across various locations in Sydney, including Circular Quay, Taronga Zoo, and the Royal Botanic Garden, there is something for everyone. This year’s program is the biggest in the festival’s history. Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham said, “I am looking forward especially to Vivid Music – seeing our venues come alive with some incredible artists – it is one of the best programs to date.” And Festival Director Gill Minervini added, “We have raised the bar on the size and scale of the events and activated new parts of the city. Our lineup features more diverse… 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