Hidden at Rookwood: Why you should head to the city of the dead

THERE’S nothing like it in the world. A sculpture walk through Sydney’s vast necropolis that tackles life and death with both gravitas and whimsy. Hidden at Rookwood is not to be missed.

Raven's Return — Remembrance and Renewal, by artist Wendy Edwards. From the 2017 Hidden exhibition at Rookwood.

WITH Rookwood necropolis turning 150 this year, curators of a gravesite exhibition have dug deep to create a worthy show for one of Australia’s oldest, biggest and most multicultural cemeteries.

Called Hidden, the sculpture exhibition began nine years ago when Rookwood Gardens authorities were keen to promote the historic site as a place for rambling family outings and picnics. Hidden is designed so visitors can follow an art trail around gravestones, trees and historic buildings in the magnificent “old section” of Rookwood on Hawthorne Ave.

Temptation, by artist Louis Pratt. In Hidden exhibition at Rookwood.

Think Sculpture By The Sea but more introspective, says Nick Vickers, exhibition co-curator with Cassandra Hard-Lawrie.

“Hidden is more, ‘be within yourself and discover the sculptures hidden there’,” Vickers says.

There are 40 artists in this year’s exhibition.

The cemetery’s newly renovated Elephant House will contain artworks including Denese Oates’ pyramid-shaped Oh What A Tangled Web.

Oh What A Tangled Web, artwork by Denise Oates, in Hidden exhibition at Rookwood. Supplied

Mark O’Ryan’s Theoria will be exhibited as part of Hidden -A Rookwood Sculpture Walk.

Susan Campbell Wright’s work Hipster Effigy Daisy and Bill will be exhibited as part of Hidden -A Rookwood Sculpture Walk.

Bricks And Mortals by Allyson Adeney will constantly change during the exhibition.

Nearby, Bricks And Mortals by Allyson Adeney comprises bricks placed on the soil where grass seeds have been scattered. Throughout the exhibition the artist will remove the bricks one by one, leaving grave-shaped imprints in the earth.

Saturday, August 26, sees a public garden party launch and announcement of the $10,000 Rookwood Cemetery Sculpture Award.

“The wonderful thing about this cemetery is that 90 nationalities buried here, and they are all resting in peace,” Vickers says.

Hidden, A Rookwood Sculpture Walk, Rookwood Memorial Gardens and Crematorium, Hawthorne Ave, Rookwood; August 26-September 24, free, hiddeninrookwood.com.au