Overview
While they're known for their sweeping harbour views, Sydney's Observatory Hill parklands will come alive with a different kind of visual treat this spring, as the rotunda plays host to a world premiere installation by acclaimed French-Albanian artist Anri Sala.
Combining sound and sculpture, his dynamic work The Last Resort is part of the latest free presentation by the Kaldor Public Arts Projects, which has been transforming public spaces into groundbreaking, contemporary art projects since 1969.
Presented daily from October 13 to November 5, the 33rd Kaldor Arts Project sees Sala explore the connection between sound, time, place and history, carefully tweaking Mozart's W.A. Mozart's Clarinet Concerto in A Major, K. 622 into an evocative, modern soundtrack to his multisensory installation. Visitors will experience the reimagined musical piece while wandering beneath a ceiling of custom-built drums, with a glistening Sydney Harbour as the backdrop.
Backing up Sala's piece is a diverse public program of talks, masterclasses, performances, workshops and family-friendly activities, all diving into the artwork's themes of journeys, the communicative power of music and that intersection between time, place and sound. Guest speakers include the likes of award-winning composer Andrew Ford, astronomer Duane Hamacher and Sala himself.
Catch The Last Resort for free from October 13 until November 5 at the Observatory Hill Rotunda. It'll run from 10am-6pm daily, and until 7.30pm on Wednesdays for those wanting to team the experience with a majestic sunset.