Rifling through Ned’s life
Murder weapon or protector, Ned Kelly’s rifle fires up the same dichotomy as its owner.
Visual Arts
Art of suburbia: Why identical houses on small blocks are bad for the soul
Houses in the most pleasant suburbs of Sydney are on generous grounds where owners spend time in the garden. But venture to the new fringe suburbs and you hit a cultural wasteland.
Tantalising echoes of everyday city
A bronze statue of Apollo is one of the most remarkable pieces in an exhibition offering vivid glimpses into the world of ancient Pompeii
Why the world is celebrating Germany’s greatest painter of the Romantic era
The first Nosferatu film, the forests in Disney’s Bambi, and Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot – all took some inspiration from German painter Caspar David Friedrich.
MCA blames media for ‘Hezbollah rewrite’
Sydney’s MCA has dropped its own description of Khaled Sabsabi’s video installation of a Hezbollah leader as a work ‘suggestive of a divine illumination’.
Incoherent vision of an impossible future
Science fiction is stretched to absurd extremes in an exhibition that mixes futurism with a naively benign view of the past.
What these spears tell us about Captain Cook’s contact with Indigenous people
Rare Aboriginal spears seized by Captain Cook’s crew in 1770 are back home and about to go on display. Their symbolism ‘is huge’.
Inside the $11m job to fix a leak
Work is under way to make the architect’s most famous home water tight – a project that is expected to cost about 40 times more than its entire construction budget.
This rising Australian artist learnt an entirely new skill for her latest exhibition
Nabilah Nordin made her name with her bold, playful sculptures. After relocating to Los Angeles, her newest – and most profound – body of work sees her move in a different direction.
Art of yum cha: Artist revives defunct Marigold restaurant
Chinese artist Cao Fei’s mind-bending exhibition at AGNSW has reclaimed the furniture from a once beloved Sydney institution.
Australian painter Gregory Hodge marks his homecoming with major exhibition
The Paris-based Sydney artist enjoys a global following, with shows around the world. Now, though, he’s returning home for a major solo exhibition that’s not to be missed.
Another view of Europe’s golden age
Henry VIII, Adam and Eve and Aphrodite are among the ‘stars’ of this modest yet intriguing exhibition at the Art Gallery of South Australia.
Australian Ballet’s David Hallberg: ‘I have no intention of alienating audiences’
The American-born artistic director says he will be choosing ‘vitality’ over ‘dusty museum pieces’ as he renews his artistic directorship for another five years.
‘No pants dance’ just the beginning
‘Mad March’ has revealed more than one naked truth in the festival-fuelled South Australian capital.
A ‘big death trap’ for orchestras
Israeli conductor Asher Fisch argues that orchestras need to avoid this one programming mistake if they want to survive.
Return to art of darkness
Dark Mofo festival has unveiled this year’s first exhibit, with Nathan Maynard’s We threw them down the rocks where they had thrown the sheep headlining another controversial collection.
When did universities become so soulless?
Campus was once a place for intimate, human gatherings and the exchange of brilliant ideas as is evident in this exhibition from the University of Sydney Union’s art collection.
Love, serendipity and a bucket of Nescafe Blend 43
Sam Scoufos captures photographic portraits of people as they appear reflected in various liquids – water, coffee, diesel, wine – ruffled by the wind. He calls the results ‘beautiful accidents’.
New major Frida Kahlo exhibition is an Australian first
The discovery of Frida Kahlo’s personal items, locked away for 50 years in the Blue House, revealed much about her identity and artistry. For the first time, Australians will see a truly intimate portrait of the artist.
Through the looking glass
Photographic artist Tamara Dean loves the ‘otherworldly’ effect of shooting underwater – and she has cleverly designed her underwater studio so she doesn’t even get wet …
Under the facade of ‘diversity’ lies the real problem in Australian arts
Anyone with any judgment would have avoided choosing an artist connected with the nations involved in the bitter Middle East conflict as Australia’s Venice Biennale representative. Can you imagine the apoplectic outrage if a Jewish artist had been selected?
From sexed up circuses to a roll call of comedians
With its carnival vibe, Australia’s largest arts festival transforms the South Australian capital.
Iconic Australian designer Martin Grant on his major career retrospective
The fashion designer-to-the-stars has dressed the likes of Cate Blanchett and the Qantas crew. Ahead of his survey exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria, Grant gives a glimpse into his surreal world.
Creative Australia head won’t resign over Biennale dumping
Creative Australia CEO Adrian Collette has told parliament he won’t resign over the dumping of artist Khaled Sabsabi as Australia’s representative to the Venice Biennale, insisting the decision was necessary.
‘I go to Spotlight and battle 10-year-old girls for the chintziest fabric’
Gerwyn Davies has a unique schtick as an artist: he wrangles gaudy materials into fantastic sculptural costumes then photographs himself in situ. What do bystanders make of it?
’Kanye treated me well … but that was before his vile remarks’
Kathy Temin’s in-demand soft sculptures have taken her to some strange places – including James Turrell’s Roden Crater – but none more unexpected than the home of Kanye West and Kim Kardashian.
Meet Ireland’s solo powerhouse
Beloved actor Stephen Rea is bringing his brilliant staging of Samuel Beckett’s Krapp’s Last Tape to the Adelaide Festival. As is standard for anyone interviewing this national treasure, I’ve been instructed not to ask questions about Dolours Price.
Noel Counihan’s political art was dramatic, but changed nothing
The artist’s pieces certainly stand out, but there’s little evidence their messages changed the opinions of Australians in the Depression, World War II and Cold War eras.
Perth Festival’s first homegrown artistic director frames a city in transition
The nation’s oldest arts festival returns with a program that pushes the boundaries even as it honours Perth’s history.
Melbourne Art Fair welcomes fresh change this year
With a new director at its helm, the major contemporary art event is opening itself up to a modern demographic of collectors – and forging an approachable image.
Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/visual-arts