Sydney has welcomed a variety of creative festivals this March including, Art Month and Design Month, with the anticipated arrival of the 21st Biennale of Sydney set to continue the wonderful showcase of thought-provoking and innovative art.
The biannual event, opening on 16 March, will present the works of 70 artists at seven venues across Sydney including the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Carriageworks, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney Opera House, Cockatoo Island, 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, and Artspace.
Participating artists such as Brook Andrew and Semiconductor, have created works in reflection of this year’s theme; Superposition: Equilibrium and Engagement. Chinese contemporary artist, Ai Weiwei is a highlight of the free program with his installation Law of the Journey, taking centerstage at Cockatoo Island. For those lucky enough to have tickets to the show, the artist will also be presenting his Oscar-nominated feature documentary, Human Flow, at the Sydney Opera House.
To accompany the outstanding works and exhibitions there will also be artist talks and workshops. All venues have various events which are sure to spark the artist within.
Vietnam Exodus, Tiffany Chung in conversation with Mami Kataoka and Alexie Glass-Kantor
Vietnamese American contemporary artist, Tiffany Chung joins 2018 Biennale Artistic Director and curator Mami Kataoka and Artspace Executive Director Alexie Glass-Kantor to discuss the selection of works from her ‘Vietnam Exodus Project’ and the presentation of alternative historical narratives.
16 March 2018, 3pm -4pm, Artspace
No reservations required
Riet Wijnen, Performative reading
Image via supplied
Dutch artist, Riet Wijnen will present a performative reading as a part of her exhibit. Derived from her own alternative biographies, Marlow Moss and Grace Crowley, and Conversation Sixteen, a fictional conversation she has staged, Wijnen explores the construction and process of history.
17 March 2018, 12pm, Art Gallery of New South Wales
No reservations required
Art and Artists: Public Galleries Summit
This 4-day program explores the issues currently faced by public galleries and the visual art worlds. The summit will voice the opinions of national and international industry leaders including, Mami Kataoka and Biennale artist, Brook Andrew.
18-21 March 2018, 11:30am, Carriageworks
Registration required at carraigeworks.com.au.
Stories of Crisis and Crisis Times: New and old myths
Ai Weiwei’s Law of the Journey (2017), Cockatoo Island. Image supplied
Featuring academics from arts, media and social sciences, this talk explores the concept of the contemporary crisis. Topics of refugees, climate change and politics are all on the table as writers, researchers and activists address these difficult topics in an public arena.
2 June 2018, 2pm-3:30pm, Cockatoo Island
No reservations required
SNAKCHAT
Join the participants of Akira Takayama’s cinematic spectacle Our Song’s – Sydney Kabuki Project and a community of creative thinkers for dynamic discussions, conversation and of course, snacks.
Last Thursday of every month, 6:30pm – 8pm 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art
RSVP required
MCA ARTBAR
On the last Friday of every month, the MCA is converted into a creative space of music, art and entertainment with guest curators Salote Tamale (23 March) and Tina Havelock Stevens (27 April) participating for the 2018 Biennale.
Last Friday of every month, 7pm-10pm, Museum of Contemporary Art
Bookings essential mca.com.au
*Please note the March ARTBAR will be held on Friday 23 March due to the Good Friday public holiday.
The 21st Biennale of Sydney runs until 11 June.
