portrait Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, photo Ana Cristina Enrique; installation shot People on People, Rafael Lozano Hemmer 2010, Recorders Manchester Galllery UK, photo Peter Mallet |
“antimonuments for alien agency”
This is what Mexican-born, Canadian-based artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer calls his interactive installations. Hemmer has visited Australia several times over the last few years, appearing at the 2009 Adelaide Film Festival as keynote speaker (see RT89) and also as the guest artist of Federation Square’s 2010 Light in Winter Festival presenting his major work Solar Equation (see the interview in RT97 and review of the work in RT99). He returns to Australia in December to present the MCA’s Lloyd Rees Memorial lecture: Antimonuments and Subsculptures, just prior to the opening of his major exhibition, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Recorders, in one of the new galleries of the MCA. In this lecture he will discuss some of his more recent projects: Voz Alta, a memorial for the Tlatelolco student Massacre in Mexico City in 1968; Levels of Nothingness, a performance for the Guggenheim Museum NYC; and Vectorial Elevation, for Vancouver Winter Olympics. “Inspired by phantasmagoria, carnival and animatronics” (press release), the exhibition will feature 12 works including two made especially for Sydney, all of which encourage high levels of audience interaction to create their magic. 2011 Lloyd Rees Memorial lecture: Antimonuments and Subsculptures, Dec 5, 6.30-8pm, The Studio, Sydney Opera House, bookings www.sydneyoperahouse.com; Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Recorders, Dec 16-Feb 12, Museum of Contemporary Art; http://www.mca.com.au/
up close and personal
In a celebration of the confessional comes The Horse's Mouth, a festival of autobiographical performance. Over three programs, some of Sydney’s more intriguing performance and theatre makers will be baring their souls and sharing their sordid histories. Program A: Bolted, features Zoe Coombs Marr sharing stories of a failed road trip (see reviews of Coombs Marr’s recent solo And That Was The Summer That Changed My Life; POST’s Who’s the Best and Everything I Know About the Global Financial Crisis in One Hour); Tim Spencer in conversation with a male sex worker; and Phil Spencer (director of the event) exploring his relationship with his Nana, rock ‘n’ roll wrestling and cake. Program B: In Hell for Leather Jono Burns explores a sense of home through his escapades in New York, while Zoe Norton Lodge reveals the idiosyncrasies of her family through a study of household neglect and a love of possums. The final program, One Trick Pony is an evening of short works by Nick Coyle, Scarlet McGlynn, Betty Grumble and Alex Vaughan. And on Sunday’s there’s also a Story Club where perhaps everyone can share! Bambina Borracha Productions in association with Tamarama Rock Surfers Theatre Company: The Horse's Mouth, artistic director Phil Spencer? producer Vanessa Hughes, Nov 24-Dec 17, Tues-Sun 8pm, The Old Fitzroy Theatre, www.horsething.com
collectors items
DELUXE dLux Edition#1 |
A new DVD publication, Short Play, is inaugurated with Volume 00:01 Play. Curated by Rachel Feery it features short works that explore the idea of play in film, performance, installation, new media and animation with works by Brown Council, Hit&Miss, Rachel Feery + Lisa Stewart, Timothy P Kerr, Jane Korman, Alanna Lorenzon, Riki-Metisse Marlow, Ms&Mr, Hannah Raisin, Safari Team, Sam Smith, Lachlan Tetlow-Stuart, Michael Vale and Jemima Wyman. The video works are also contextualised by six essays. With 500 produced the DVD costs $20 plus postage and can be bought online or found in a range of galleries. Short Play Publications, Volume 00:01 Play; http://shortplaypublications.com.au/
ears around melbourne
Giant Theremin, Robin Fox photo courtesy the artsist |
Cara-Ann Simpson, Geo Sound Helmets, 2011 photo Emily Hlavac-Green |
The Out Hear Festival will also offer immersive sound experiences, but of a more acoustic nature. Dale Gorfinkel (see recent coverage in RT104, and earbash) has been artist in residence at the Footscray Art Centre and has also curated a weekend of deep listening events including installations, kinetic sound sculptures and instruments, performances and sound walks. Joining him will be guest artists Joyce Hinterding , Ernie Althoff, Rikki-Metisse Marlow, Ross Manning, Matt Chaumont and Anthony Magen. Out Hear Festival, curator Dale Gorfinkel, performance evening Nov 25, 8pm; Big West Festival weekend installations Nov 26 & Nov 27 11am-4pm; Footscray Arts Centre; http://outhear.com/; http://footscrayarts.com/
beijing bound
Shen Shaomin, I sleep on top of myself, detail of production image and installation shots, 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art courtesy of the artist |
future food
Given the current obsession with curious cuisine, it’s no surprise that some artists are incorporating the culinary into their practice. Australian-born US based Natalie Jeremijenko is a leading artist working with science and environmental issues and over the next two weeks she will be combining ecological thinking with haut-cuisine as she presents her Cross(x)Species Adventure Club in Sydney, Melbourne and Avoca (regional Victoria). Jeremijenko and chef Mihir Desai have been presenting the “eco-inspired ‘supper club’” around galleries in New York, creating dining experiences that illustrate “how choices in how and what we consume can have direct effects on ecological systems and the species that exist within them” (press release), with the proceeds helping support her Environmental Health Clinic (xClinic) at New York University. Cross(x)Species Adventure Club will be presented for one night only, Dec 1, at the Melbourne Museum, where guests will experience “edible cocktails that each stylishly and humorously explore our gastronomic, economic and material interdependency on other creatures” (press release). There will also be an exclusive Cross(x)Species degustation dinner at ArcOne Gallery on Nov 30. Prior to the Melbourne leg of the tour Jeremijenko has also appeared in Sydney for the National Institute of Experimental Art’s Curating Cities: Sydney-Copenhagen conference at Customs House. Aspects of her Farmacy project, with suggestions as to how to become an urban farmer or uFarmer, will be on display as part of the accompanying exhibition. Carbon Arts presents Natalie Jeremijenko’s Cross(x)Species Adventure Club; see website for full program details; http://www.carbonarts.org/events; NIEA’s Curating Cities: Sydney-Copenhagen, Nov 17- Dec 18, Customs House, Circular Quay; http://curatingcities.org/exhibitions/curating-cities-sydney-copenhagen/
fotofreo fringe proposals
Western Australia’s biannual photographic festival is coming up in March-April 2012 and planning is well underway. As well as major commissions by Martin Parr exploring Broome, Port Hedland, Fremantle and Albany and Bo Wong capturing the essence of Fremantle Market, there will also be a focus on photography from India and a group exhibition from New Zealand. The fringe festival is currently calling for submissions with a deadline of Nov 30. http://www.fotofreo.com/programme/fringe-exhibitions
RealTime issue #105 Oct-Nov 2011 pg. web
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