NeXmas Fundraising Exhibition

Overview

From Thursday 'til Saturday this week, Next Wave Festival — those biennial bringers of greatness and good times — are asking for your help. Yes it's money, but no, it's not really charity. In a very fitting fashion, Next Wave are hosting an exhibition of visual art donated by artists involved in the festival, past and present. Everything will be available to buy — from 2-metre long prints down to the unsuspecting coffee cup.

With the work of more than 20 artists on display, there will be a bit for everyone's tastes (and budgets) too. Abdul Abdullah, an artist who has been twice shortlisted for the Archibald Prize will have work on display. As will Phuong Ngo, an artist exhibiting in the currently showing NGV exhibition Melbourne Now. Each artist in this Next Wave crop fact has an impressive rap sheet behind them in fact. There's Megan Cope and her entrancing work on decolonisation, Laura Delaney's calming art steeped in nostalgia, and Eugenia Lim, an artist whose work across video, photography, and installation is always heavily tapered to place and a heavy sense of belonging.

From its first festival in 1985, Next Wave has always sought to "create art for an unknown future"; a pretty admirable pursuit. Show up and at the very least have a drink — make their future a little less unknown.

Image: Abdul Abdullah