You may hear Aloha and think leis, mai tais and Waikiki. But, as I have recently discovered, there is much more to the city of Honolulu, indeed the islands of Hawaii, than the obvious clichés. There is art to be had, of a calibre and richness that is both inspirational and enjoyable. On Diamond Head, […]
St Leonards (NSW 2065) is not generally my preferred destination for an evening out. Its reputation stands as a transport, medical and small business hub, with buildings of the 70s light industrial-type. Yes it’s easily accessed and a busy thoroughfare during the day, but by night, it’s pretty soulless and bleak. Not much speaks to […]
If the 1st exhibition of the twice yearly / 5 year partnership of Anna Schwartz and Carriageworks (Director, Lisa Havilah) is anything to go by, then we’re in for some serious treats. El Anatsui Five Decades is the first exhibition in this partnership and is a must see. This is a significant survey exhibition of […]
Bold. I think that pretty much sums up the attitude to collecting contemporary art. And with being bold comes decisiveness, confidence, an element of risk-taking and a bit of luck. A collection with resonance and cohesion is brought together over time, by looking, thinking, talking through, then taking the plunge and buying. Time builds confidence. […]
Artist Sarah Robson‘s practice is informed by her wider study into creativity, the core of her research at UNSW Art and Design. She currently has an exhibition on at Manly Art Gallery & Museum which surveys the trajectories of her career. The exhibition was reviewed in the last post on this blog. As an extension of […]
Not many artists get invited to speak at the World Leaders Forum hosted by Columbia University in NYC. I imagine few would put artists together with economists, scientists, academics, politicians and corporate bigwigs in the same “world leader” category. In 2011 British artist Isaac Julien, as the Mellon Visiting Fellow, was a key note speaker at […]
The Carnival is over, for now, and it was a blast. Starting with 17,000 or thereabout designer-clad enthusiasts leading the stampede through the doors and filling every nook and cranny of what is the enormous Carriageworks venue for the (supposed) VIP Vernissage on Thursday evening; to finishing late afternoon on Sunday with lots of red […]
The Venice Biennale is a mammoth event. It is the Olympiad of international contemporary art; the Holy Grail of international contemporary art events. It is enormous, ambitious and wide spread throughout the historic and beautiful city of Venice. The Biennale is lots of adjectives: exciting, inspiring, provocative, beautiful. At the same time, it is overwhelming […]
This week’s blog heralds from the very gorgeous city of Istanbul. Think Aya Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and, ground zero for retail, The Grand Bazaar, all of which are a must for any visitor to behold. The vision of earlier Sultans and the mastery of their architects and artisans have left an indelible […]
