Sydney, we hope you’re ready for your dose of culture because the Biennale of Sydney is returning and it’s bigger than ever. If you’re a culture vulture you already know what the fuss is about. If not, this is all you need to know — since it’s inception in 1973 the Biennale has been regarded as the largest contemporary art festival in Australia. On the cards this year: 330 artworks by 89 participants and 400 events, completely free and open to the public.
The 23rd Biennale of Sydney
Titled rīvus, meaning ‘stream’ in Latin, the Biennale will see artworks centred around wetlands and other salt and freshwater ecosystems, enabling a dialogue with participants and attendees.
Audiences will find themselves immersed in large scale installations and artworks by critically acclaimed local and international artists. International names include: Kiki Smith, Marguerite Humeau, Sheroanawe Hakihiiwe and Ackroyd & Harvey along with Aussie participants like Badger Bates, Clare Milledge, Julie Gough and D Harding.
Highlights
A mural-sized collage, a 600-square-metre bamboo structure, a hanging sculptural sound installation and a 365-million-year-old fish fossil are just some of the many highlights of the Biennale this year.
You’ll want to watch out for the Australian premiere of The Great Animal Orchestra — a major immersive installation created by American soundscape ecologist Bernie Krause and London-based collective United Visual Artists. She’s a Rock — a collaboration by four Māori women (Mata Aho Collective) is inspired by traditional Māori strapping systems called Kawe and reflects on the meeting place of fresh and saltwater.
For the first time ever the Biennale will see The Cutaway at Barangaroo acting as a key venue housing some of the big highlights of this year’s event. The event also returns to Pier 2/3 along with other major locations including the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Circular Quay, the Information + Cultural Exchange, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the National Art School in partnership with Artspace, and the Rocks.
Needless to say, if contemporary art is your thing, this is an ideal addition to your calendar. The 23rd Biennale of Sydney will be open to the public from Saturday, March 12 to Monday June 13.
Find more information on their official website.