A Guide to the 21st Biennale of Sydney: From Haymarket's 4A Gallery to Carriageworks
Navigate an oral history of Sydney, large-scale immersive art and works by 70 international and local artists at this festival of remarkable art and ideas.
In partnership with 
When the 21st Biennale spreads its artistic arsenal across seven venues in Sydney this March, we plan to be ready. 70 artists from across the globe will be exhibiting their eclectic works under the theme of Superposition: Equilibrium & Engagement in celebration of the 45th anniversary of this explosive festival. In partnership with the Biennale of Sydney, we've curated three different itineraries to arm you with everything you need to navigate this vast and varied program. But let's not forget that an inquisitive, creative-focused brain needs nourishment, so we've thrown in the best food and drink joints nearby as well.
The artistic use of video is a loose connecting thread on this tour between Haymarket and Eveleigh. From the 4A Centre of Contemporary Asian Art to the expansive space that is Carriageworks, you'll experience different takes on filmmaking from across the globe. You'll also experience a Mary's burger pizza.
Akira Takayama: McDonald's Radio University, 2017. Photograph: Masahiro Hasunuma.
4A CENTRE FOR CONTEMPORARY ASIAN ART
Renowned Japanese theatre director and actor Akira Takayama has asked the fine folk of Sydney to share a poem or song significant to their family — regardless of their origins — that has been passed down from generation to generation to create a tapestry of oral histories of the city and its people. He has then invited those who submit to perform them for his film that will be shown at 4A throughout the festival.
PITSTOP: THE LANSDOWNE
Sydney's favourite live music venue lives and is about halfway between 4A and Carriageworks. "Music. Art. Pizza. Party" are the words used to describe the new Lansdowne on their website, so this must be the right stop off for your art-led itinerary. And have you tried their pizza? They have a Mary's burger pizza. Even better, if you're there between 12–3pm these legends offer lunch for just a tenner.
CARRIAGEWORKS
Semiconductor: Earthworks, 2016. Photograph: Semiconductor.
IMMERSIVE ART
The former rail yard space of Carriageworks lends well to large-scale installations, so the Biennale crew know to use this wisely and have curated something special with video at the core. Cutting-edge UK artist duo Semiconductor is set to give their take on our fascination with material things and will do so with a large five-channel video work. Also using experimental video, Chinese artist Chen Shaoxiang will work with four channels in his visual exploration of everyday life and Vietnam's Trinh Thi Nguyen will bring her filmmaker skills to a special Carriageworks piece.
PITSTOP: CORNERSTONE BAR & FOOD
Why exit the Carriageworks building when you can seamlessly sink into one of the couches at the on-site Cornerstone Bar & Food. This warmly lit industrial space is just the come-down you need from a day of such sensory stimulation. In fact, you may just want to come here once a week for their rotating menu of arancini balls. The hungry can tuck into a bowl of teriyaki chicken or Korean barbecue pork, but if you resisted the pizza at The Lansdowne you probably won't be able to avoid the lure of the Turkish pizza with haloumi and caramelised onion.
The 21st Biennale of Sydney sets up across the city on March 16 and will run until June 11. Find out more about the program here, and check out our guides from the MCA to Cockatoo Island and the Opera House to Artspace in Woolloomooloo.
