With technology smashing down the barriers between real and pretend, a bunch of Aussie and Korean artists take a look at what it means to be human — right now and in the future. The results include crossbred cacti, LED books, dancing robots and a pneumatically-powered blender that mixes human biomaterials. Yep, it's pretty much a mind-bending combo of Star Wars, Blade Runner and an ordinary day with Bompas and Parr (who, sadly, aren't in this exhibition). But never fear, artists tackling the future include Perth's Rebecca Baumann, who's obsessed with the relationship between colours, materials and feelings; Seoul's Airan Kang, who's presenting her ongoing Digital Book Project, which explores the future of the mighty book; and Sydney's Justin Shoulder, who'll be creating some mad performance art in the MCA Lecture Theatre on August 8, 9 and 10. New Romance: Art and the posthuman will be bringing a dose of weird and wonderfulness to your winter until September 4. And, by the way, it's free.
Get read for sensory overload — Chinese New Year is here. Time to fill the streets with fireworks and dancing lions while you alternate between inhaling incredible Asian cuisine and watching feats of strength at the Darling Harbour dragon boat races. For the Year of the Monkey (a sign of playfulness, curiosity, mischievousness, and cleverness), the festival will be connecting you with the best of the Chinese creative world, including lunar markets, high-flying karaoke sessions, k-pop parties, contemporary Chinese cinema, and feasting, feasting, feasting. With so much to do and see, here are a few highlights from Sydney's Chinese New Year Festival you shouldn't miss.
For most of us, a world with sight and sound is so natural, so normal that it's almost impossible for us to comprehend a world without them. In Imagined Touch, deafblind artists Heather Lawson and Michelle Stevens invite us into this life, to experience the world of art in the way that they do: without sight or sound. Wearing vision-limiting goggles and chunky headphones, the visitor takes on a unique experience, relying on the remaining senses to feel the story presented by the artists. Imagined Touch will also be presented as a self-guided free installation at Carriageworks from January 10-14. This is one of 15 next-level events to see at Sydney Festival. Check out the whole list.
Become starry-eyed this Valentine's Day at the Sydney Observatory with their astronomical, stargazing event, coupled with delicious canapes and seductive jazz music. Catch a glimpse of Venus (weather permitting), the planet of love, through the North Dome telescopes, and get lost in the night sky through the various courtyard telescopes. This event is the perfect backdrop for kindling a burning love, or simply indulging your space-travel fantasy.
What is it? Can I sit on it? Do I put my coffee on it? Mindbending origami furniture that confuses us all is by no means a new idea, but this designer has put a stunning modern spin on a tried and true design tactic. UAE-based designer Aljoud Lootah has created a brand new furniture collection called the 'Oru Series', which both fascinates and terrifies us with its perplexing angularity. But yes, you can put your books, coffee and butt on all of them. Designed for Dubai's Design Days 2015 event, Lootah's series debuted this just week. Taking cues from the ancient Japanese art of paper folding, the bite-sized 'Oru' series is made up of a chair, table lamp, mirror and cabinet; all created from copper, felt and the glorious, glorious badassery that is teak wood. "The name 'Oru' originates from the Japanese words 'to fold', and the idea behind the designs is to show that folding a flat, two-dimensional sheet can create aesthetically appealing functional three-dimensional forms," says Lootah on her website. "The products, with their faceted design looking like complex folds but with sophisticated simplicity, are a modern interpretation of an ancient form of art." Oru collection Oru cabinet Oru lamp Oru chair Oru mirror Via Design Boom. Images: Aljoud Lootah.
Gowns made from parachutes, clothes embedded into other clothes, ribbed jumpers coated in plastic — this is the future of fashion according to the UTS 2017 honours fashion graduates. Over the past year, the students have been developing and experimenting with fabrics, prints and techniques, which all culminated in this week's grad show. 16 designers showed off how they've mastered the precise skill of tailoring, only to deconstruct the pants, jackets and suits to create entirely new silhouettes; of weaving and knitting incredibly intricate fabrics; and of taking fashion norms and standing them on their head. The grads toyed and experimented with outdated cultural standards, establishing an upcoming generation of designers not constrained by gender, not threatened by diversity, but devoted to openness and ethical practices. These are the disruptors. Each designer sent out something completely different. Yael Frischling was inspired by Japanese architecture and took an ethical approach, creating exaggerated, red and white woven wool — a collection made with zero wastage. Gina Snodgrass fused typically 'masculine' and 'feminine' fabrics together into hybrid garments reminiscent of kilts — a Scottish symbol of masculinity — all while asking, "when does it stop being a kilt and start being a skirt?" And though sisters Tess and Mikala Tavener Hanks were both on the program, each of the designers stood out in her own right. Through her collection of silks and wool coated in silicone, Tess challenged our use of plastic as something that normally, cheaply imitates or wraps products, while Mikala warped our sense of clothing through visual illusion using tactile imagery and embedded garments — clothes were fused into and onto other clothes with the idea of breaking tradition and subverting common styles. Sure, this wasn't a Gucci, Louis Vuitton or even Romance Was Born runway show, but it was a show of innovation, creativity and a no-holds-barred approach to design. With these grads, there's no sales manager pushing them to create an easy sell. There are no trends they must follow or categories they must design to. This was simply raw, fresh talent given the platform and resources for total exploration, disruption and creative expression. Showcase images: Kimberley Low.
The Wheeler Centre is renowned for their innovative programming, but the project they're cooking up now is a doozy. Named after that most endearing punctuation mark, The Interrobang: A Festival of Questions is a festival that is calling on you to decide the topics of conversation. The idea behind the festival is a democratic one: using crowdsourcing techniques, the program is being written around questions submitted by the public and presented to a Brains Trust of writers and thinkers over the two-day festival in Melbourne on November 27-28. Emily Sexton, the head of programming at The Wheeler Centre, says that as well as creating a festival made from publicly sourced questions, she also wants us to question the question. What makes a good question? Can the right question change the landscape of discussion for the better? As well as submitting questions, the public are invited to vote for the best questions. “The way we imagine it is a combination of very potent, political, urgent questions of our time, like 'what is the future of European democracy and what will happen to organisations like the UN or the EU that were founded on a collective idea? Is that still relevant for contemporary life?' But also really inconsequential, playful questions like 'where are all the baby pigeons? Why don’t we ever see them?' I hope there’s a really great mix of personal or political questions,” she says. “There’s no question too big or too small.” There’ll be no shortage of answers either. The Interrobang has assembled a Brains Trust of 25 artists, thinkers, writers and doers from around the world to tackle the questions posed. Included is Wild writer and 'Dear Sugar' advice columnist Cheryl Strayed, cult sci-fi author and tech activist Cory Doctorow, Australia’s sweetheart Benjamin Law, the former Greek Minister of Finance Yanis Varoufakis, playwright and Twitter hero Nakkiah Lui, journalist Geraldine Brooks, broadcaster Mark Colvin and chef and presenter Adam Liaw. The prerequisite for all the panellists was the need for pluralism and enthusiasm about a range of topics. Don’t expect any sales pitches or pre-made answers here; with such a diverse panel, the aim is to explore the topics from every angle. Emily promises that every question, big or small, will be used in some way in the program. “It’s a significant democratic exercise in a way of handing over control and exploring what people really want to know,” she says. We, for one, are intrigued and would very much like to know where the baby pigeons are. We’ll have to wait until November to find out. Submit your question to The Interrobang via the event website. Tickets for the festival go on sale October 12.
Bedroom producers are the self-publishers of the music world, DIY crusaders making music on their own steam and striving to be the next Flume, Grimes or James Blake. It's a pervasive assumption that home production is a stop-gap for struggling musicians before they manage to get themselves into a professional studio. In practice, electronic music in particular lends itself beautifully to MacGyvered production methods, not just as a way to keep costs down but for the gritty imperfections that come innately from making music in a home studio. For Melbourne's phreshest electronic duo Kllo (Simon Lam and Chloe Kaul), recording in their own home bungalow was as DIY as it gets. "We used a doona as the vocal booth," laughs Chloe, explaining that DIY production helps to soften the polished and artificial sheen that stigmatises so much electronic music. "We want a homely, organic sound, so we use analogue synths and home-made sounds like beating pots and pans. We didn't want it to be too clean." Kllo are having one hell of a year. They've got two singles under their collective belt, both well received, just nailed their appearance at Splendour in the Grass (for the second time), DJed at the official Splendour pre-party, and played a killer party set at Concrete Playground and Sonos's Beach Break with Good Manners labelmate Banoffee. This August, they'll be releasing their album Well Worn and touring nationally. They're proving exactly what a couple of DIY musos with drive can do when they put their minds to it. We sat down with Kllo to mine some of their best working-from-home advice. EVEN BEDROOM PRODUCERS DON'T SLEEP WHERE THEY WORK The first thing any work-from-homer will tell you is that you should never work in bed (and not just because you will get crumbies in the sheets). In fact, this was Simon's first suggestion and a tested truism. "You've gotta separate your living and working space. It's so important, even if you've only got one room to work out of, just draw a line down it," he suggests. "I've worked out of bedrooms for a long time and when it kind of all bleeds together, it becomes unhealthy. It's nice to shut the door at the end of the day and feel like you've left work". Separating work and play is universally acknowledged as a crucial part of not completely losing your mind while working from home. To this end, Kllo work out of two spaces, the bungalow (a room off Simon's house in the 'burbs) and a studio in the CBD. "The energies are different," says Simon. "It's good to be able to walk through the city and come [to the studio] and maintain that high-paced energy. Whereas at the bungalow, it's really isolated, we can work a whole day without talking to anyone but ourselves… you can really get into your own head." TREAT YOUR CREATIVE JOB LIKE A REAL JOB Like so many things in life, a big part of a creative career is turning up. Not turning up at the clurb but physically (and mentally) turning up to your work space and grinding away even when there's no-one but yourself to report to. Throw the sporadic nature of creativity into play and the isolation of working from home and you've got yourself a bit of a quagmire. "Sometimes you can be so disciplined, but then you go to make music in your scheduled time and nothing happens," says Simon. "You can't prepare for when blocks come on." "Times like those are when it's good to do other things and then come back to it," Chloe adds. IF YOU HAVE TO PROCRASTINATE, DO IT WITH A SIT-DOWN MEAL "When we're having a mental block, we eat. We congregate in the kitchen, kettle on, lots of food and coffees. Or treats if we're really down," Chloe says "Then we try to fill ourselves with a lot of carbs and then sugar." "We tend to just have full meals," Simon adds. "A lot of breakfast foods." "We'll have a sit down meal of eggs, avocado, toast," says Chloe. "I also like a Kit Kat Chunky, Sim got me into them. I love that first bite, when it's all chocolate — so good. I've got to stop talking about this, I want one now." MAKE SURE YOU'RE COMFORTABLE IN YOUR SPACE On screen, crispy, white, Tumblr-esque minimalism is king, but in real life it's unnatural, not to mention impractical. This rings especially true for electronic musicians. "Some studios are just so sterile, a vacuum for sound and creativity," says Simon. "I think being comfortable is more important, to make sure you're comfortable and not being put off by anything." Kllo's studio in the CBD is a collaborative space where they're currently working on their album. It's a busy space, littered with knick knacks, beer cans sprouting fluffy cacti, slick high-tech gadgetry including Sonos's smart speaker system, oddments of furniture, shelves clustered with figurines and piles of gear, hedged with endless bundles of cords. In the well-walked studio space of pre-tour musicians, in the midst of promoting an upcoming album, there's no room for impractical minimalism. "But plants are good. Plants are helpful, they bring some life amongst all the metal," Chloe says. "And for us, it's important to play a lot of music at home and in the studio to get inspired and feel at home. You've gotta have a good sound system set up, for sure." DON'T BE AFRAID TO DREAM A LITTLE BIGGER What does Kllo's ideal studio look like? "I reckon it's all wood, with a nice spa," Chloe says. "Big windows and a lot of forest around it." Simon's on board with the window game. "For me it's definitely big windows and when you look out of the window there's a huge garden but then it's actually somewhere really central," he says. And an in-house chef? "Oh, of course. That would be our main thing," Chloe says "if there was an in-house chef I'd just ask him to make me cocktails all day." "I think I'd like a private Coles or Safeway downstairs too," Simon adds. We couldn't agree more. And now for a little music. Here's what Kllo are listening to right now, crank it up. Want to have studio-level sound in your own home? We're teaming up with Sonos to giveaway one of their coveted PLAY:1 speakers, valued at $299. ENTER HERE. Images: Jam on Your Collar, Alexandra Anderson.
For a healthy dose of local powerhouse and a chance to see some of Sydney's most talented Aboriginal women perform live, head along to Klub Koori this July. The vibrant event, presented by Carriageworks and Koori Radio, showcases emerging and established Indigenous musicians. Klub Koori is a regular event established by Koori Radio to promote and support talented musicians from Indigenous communities across the country. It allows artists to perform, share their stories and discuss their culture with diverse crowds. Acting as a supportive gathering place for artists and audiences alike, Klub Koori brings Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians together one song at a time. Coinciding with NAIDOC Week, the event will see an all-female lineup will take centre stage, with award-winning musician, presenter and author Casey Donovan headlining the show. She'll be joined by fellow performers Jess Beck, Mi-Kaisha Masella and Thaylia for a night of all-out power not to be missed.
Archie Rose, Sydney's first commercial distillery in 160 years, has a new, more personal offering in the works. Well, technically it would be your offering. Rosebery's gin whizzes have launched a new project where you can tailor your own spirit and have your name printed on the label. It's a dream you might not have even known you had. Archie Rose founder and owner Will Edwards wants the project to "give people the opportunity to get really involved in the distilling process." Currently, the spirits available to be tailored are gin, vodka and whisky. After choosing three to five of the distillery's unique botanicals for your Signature Dry Gin or Original Vodka, you can customise the intensity of each flavour and personalise the bottle with your name. If you're gifting these, you can add your lucky mate's name to the label. A tailored bottle of vodka will will set you back $84, or $89 for gin. Once your chosen spirit's matured and bottled, you'll receive it in the mail in a handmade crate with full brewing and distillation notes. Archie Rose's tailored whisky, on the other hand, is not for the faint-hearted (or the tight-budgeted). It will set you back a whopping $4000 (at least) but get this: it's a 20L cask. You can customise everything from the type of wood used to the level of smoke influence and ABV. You'll receive a 200ml sample annually to check how your baby's maturing, or you can visit on appointment. There's even an option for you and four friends to assist in the actual making of your whisky. If you're preparing for an apocalypse, Archie Rose also offers a 50L and 100L cask. Just in case. How many chances will you get to have an award-winning distillery make your custom blend? An Archie Rose tailored spirit a pretty perfect gift and as soon as your custom bottle (or case) is unwrapped at the family Christmas party, the 'best gift giver' trophy will be yours. Better get your acceptance speech ready. Tailor your own spirit at the Archie Rose website.
Summer is just around the corner, and what better way to prepare your body and mind than a weekend of wellness? If a Saturday of meditation workshops, exercise classes and wellness sessions sounds like your cup of tea (or bottle of coconut water, as the case may be) mark your calendar for The Wellness Festival. After a sold-out debut in Melbourne in April 2016, this health-focused festival is coming to our fair city for the first time. This relatively new festival is the creation of health enthusiast Lauren Pell, founder of wellness-focused event production company Colour & Coconuts. Hosted by Australian model and presenter Laura Dundovic and featuring speakers such as international health blogger Jessica Sepel, The Brown Paper Bag founder Jacqueline Alwill, Mastering Your Mean Girl author Melissa Ambrosini and more, The Wellness Festival offers a full day program that includes a lunchtime workout, talks by successful entrepreneurs and health experts, and a Wellness Market. And, once all the festivities have helped you work up an appetite, refuel with a wide selection of healthy snacks and meals. Don't wait to buy your tickets: the first 100 ticket holders will nab a free gift.
If you haven’t made it along to a Soul of Sydney gathering yet, you’re still to discover where the city's best parties are at. Creating a one-off festival instalment especially for Vivid, the music and dance devotees are throwing a bash to outdo all bashes. Headlining the whole hootenanny, The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra — a 19-piece funk, soul and afro-beat band from Melbourne. This isn't going to be a quiet cheese-and-wine shindig, that's for sure. Expect intense, infectious Fela Kuti-style rhythms mixed with hip-hop and tribal chants. Of course, Soul of Sydney's own DJs and favourite guest acts will be on the scene as well. The afternoon-to-evening party will be happening on May 24 at a secret location, only divulged to ticketholders. But with tickets starting at ten beans and if we're making predictions based on previous Soul of Sydney parties, this could be the best deal at Vivid this year.
Whenever an exciting tour announcement arrives, it usually heralds two pieces of good news. Firstly, someone ace is coming our way. Secondly, they probably have something new — an album or a book — to spruik. That's firmly the case with the latest revelation for 2023: David Sedaris' next Australia tour. This time, the author, comedian and NPR humorist has just dropped New York Times best seller Happy-Go-Lucky, and he's heading to Hobart, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane to talk about it. Known for his snappy wit, as well as his discerning and astute ability to observe life's moments — both trivial and extraordinary — in both an observational and unique way, Sedaris is making his sixth trip Down Under to chat about the book, which focuses on the pandemic. If you haven't seen Sedaris live before, his shows are part of the reason that he's built up such a following. Onstage, he regularly weaves in new and unpublished material, too, so — and the satirist will throw it over to the crowd for a Q&A as well, and sign copies of his book. Sedaris is celebrated for his constant This American Life appearances, must-read pieces in The New Yorker and his past unputdownable books such as Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, Let's Explore Diabetes With Owls and Theft By Finding: Diaries (1977-2002). If you've been searching for a supportive environment to use the phrase "how very droll," this is it. His live evenings always sell out quickly — all of his Aussie tours have so far — so you'll want to jump on tickets ASAP when they go on sale on Wednesday, August 3. [caption id="attachment_862851" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Prudence Upton[/caption] AN EVENING WITH DAVID SEDARIS 2023 TOUR DATES: Wednesday, February 1 — Theatre Royal, Hobart Friday, February 3 — Regal Theatre, Perth Saturday, February 4 — Adelaide Festival Centre Sunday, February 5 — Canberra Theatre Centre Monday, February 6–Tuesday, February 7 — Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne Wednesday, February 8 — Brisbane Powerhouse Thursday, February 9 — Sydney Opera House David Sedaris tours Australia in February 2023. For more information, or to sign up for ticket pre-sales — which start on Tuesday, August 2, with general sales from 9am on Wednesday, August 3 — head to the tour website. Image: Anne Fishbein.
It's absolutely true and absolutely about time. There's an official Hello Kitty diner coming to Sydney. Yep, it's not quite another kitten cafe, but we'll take it. Whether the establishment will be pop-up or permanent, the crew haven't revealed much at all yet, with a single Instagram post saying: The diner's Facebook page indicates the diner's cuisine will be primarily American, with hot dogs and burgers flagged; so it looks like it won't be the Hello Kitty yum cha style Hong Kong can look forward to at the world's first official Hello Kitty restaurant. This isn't the first Hello Kitty establishment for Australia — Sanrio's first licensed Australian Hello Kitty Cafe is in Adelaide, selling simply adorable cakes and baked goods. If you can't wait a few months until the Sydney diner reveals an opening date, just book a trip on the Hello Kitty airplane, regularly running from Paris to Taipei in all its Kitty glory. Watch this space for more info as it comes out, we're sure there's going to be adorable images of Hello Kitty-shaped burgs coming your way soon. Image: Hello Kitty pancake by Ellie, Kawaii Kakkoii Sugoi. Not part of the upcoming menu but adorable anyway.
Romance has a lot to answer for. We're big fans of love, but when it comes to getaways for two, the chilled champers, heart-shaped chocolate and rose petal-strewn room combo isn't the only exciting activity a couple can get up to. In fact, if you're visiting somewhere as scenic, celebrated and overflowing with things to see, do, eat and experience as the Blue Mountains, holing up in a cabin in the woods means that you're missing out on half the fun. Whether you and your favourite are foodies, art and design lovers, history buffs, outdoorsy types or unashamedly enthusiastic tourists, we've come up with five jam-packed itineraries for your next couples trip to the Blueys. [caption id="attachment_574818" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Darley's.[/caption] FOR FOODIES We're not just talking about food — we're talking about food with a killer view. So you'd best make sure Scenic World's EATS270 is on your agenda, because who doesn't want to devour a lunch of angus beef burgers while perched 270 metres above the ground and looking out over the Jamison Valley? Grabbing brekkie on the verandah at The Conservation Hut, tucking into Vesta's rustic mountain menu, and going casual at Leura Garage are also a must, particularly if you're after hearty, tasty comfort dishes. So is dropping by The Hydro Majestic, where you'll find high tea served in the Wintergarden, yum cha and cocktails at Salon Du, and pizza and pasta at The Boiler House. And as for washing it all down — well, that's where dinner and drinks at Silk's Brasserie and Native Kitchen and Bar comes in. Then, as far as holing of up for the night is concerned, you can't go past Echoes Boutique Hotel and Restaurant. The fact that it boasts award-winning fine dining establishment Darley's on the premises isn't a coincidence. FOR OUTDOORSY TYPES Seriously, where do we start? Bushwalks, waterfalls, big batches of pretty plant life — the Blue Mountains have it all, plus abseiling and Segway tours as well. First, why not get your feet pumping by moseying along the Prince Henry Cliff Walk, Furber Stairs, the Great Round Walk or the Scenic Walkway (2.4 kilometres of elevated boardwalk through pristine rainforest), all of which start at Scenic World (which has free all-day parking). Or, even if the weather isn't too warm, you can stare at the majesty of Leura Cascades, Minnehaha Falls and Wentworth Falls. Anyone after something a bit more vertical and adventurous should get in touch with the Katoomba-based Australian School of Mountaineering, who run courses and trips all year round. And those keen on a dose of Indigenous culture can tour cave painting and rock carving sites — either as part of a group, or by heading to Blue Mountains National Park. After all that active fun, well, there's only one place to stay. We know we said that these itineraries weren't just above love — but who can pass up the chance to get up close to nature and sleep in a Love Cabins treehouse or teepee with their significant other? [caption id="attachment_574828" align="alignnone" width="1280"] The Carrington.[/caption] FOR HISTORY BUFFS Every Aussie school kid learned about Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth crossing the Blue Mountains back in 1813, but there's more history in these towering rock formations than that. In fact, following in their footsteps via coach is just one of many history tours on offer. Why not head out on an authentic Aboriginal walkabout, enjoy a heritage and art walk, or visit the more mysterious and even ghostly hotspots in the area? Diving into the region's past at the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre is also a great way to get acquainted with the ol' Blueys. Check out the Into the Blue exhibition, a treasure trove of info for newcomers. Or, perhaps you'd like an old school experience of the entertaining kind, like catching a movie at Mount Vic Flicks. They really don't make cinemas like this back in the city. Of course, even bunking down for the night is a historical affair if you stay in the right place. Given that The Carrington first opened back in 1883, avoiding the past there is impossible (even if you spend too long in their new craft brewery, which is due to open in late 2016). [caption id="attachment_575541" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Gary P Hayes.[/caption] FOR CLASSIC SIGHTSEERS Never met a tourist attraction — be it a wildlife park or a historical village — that you haven't wanted to take a selfie at? Then the Blue Mountains is the place for you. Soon, your Facebook profile can boast snaps taken from the steepest railway incline in the world, as well as pics inside the most spectacular caves in Australia. C'mon, you know that's exactly what you want to do. For the former, Scenic World is your must-visit destination — and for gliding on the glass-bottomed Skyway, descending down Jamison Valley via the Scenic Railway, and meandering along a rainforest walkway. As for the latter, we're talking about the Jenolan Caves, of course. They're one of the area's most popular spots for a reason. And no visit up the mountains would be complete without a trip to the Three Sisters. Indeed, checking out their floodlit expanses at night is a bucket list moment. In fact, staying at the nearby Lillianfels Resort and Spa and making an evening of it is highly recommended. [caption id="attachment_574827" align="alignnone" width="1280"] BMCC.[/caption] FOR ART AND DESIGN LOVERS If the Blue Mountains seem like the kind of place that artists would flock to, that's because it is. Iconic Aussie artist Norman Lindsay was one of the area's most famous residents, with the Norman Lindsay Galley and Museum showcasing his work. If you've seen the Elle Macpherson and Hugh Grant-starring flick Sirens, you'll know that there's more to his output than The Magic Pudding. First stop, Blue Mountains Cultural Centre. Then explore Australian art history at one of the many Indigenous arts centres, and grab a few gifts to take home from the Waradah Aboriginal Gallery. Elsewhere, you'll find ace fashion courtesy of Leura's Mrs Peel and Little Wing Clothing — and Glenbrook's Late September, as well. Expect antiques aplenty at Macarthur's Arcade in Katoomba and the Victory Theatre Antique Centre in Blackheath, contemporary art at the Blue Mountains City Art Galley, and even a street art walk through the Beverly Place precinct. Oh, and there's a teapot museum too, if that's your kind of thing. Then, spend the evening in a Heritage Room at The Hydro Majestic. With their art deco fitouts, they're practically works of art themselves. Top image: Gary P Hayes.
The one and only Marina Abramovic will be settling down in Sydney this week. Her 12-day-long Kaldor residency will begin on June 24, transforming Walsh Bay’s Pier 2/3 into a public art laboratory. Abramovic is the undisputed “grandmother of performance art”. She gained notoriety in art circles for her daring and death-defying performances from the ‘70s onward; however, it was her 2010 retrospective, The Artist Is Present at MoMA which catapulted her into the cultural mainstream. Following high-profile collaborations with the likes of Lady Gaga and Jay Z, Abramovic has reached rock-star levels of popularity herself. If it feels like Abramovic sprung out of obscurity around five years ago, you might wonder how she came to be the world’s most famous performance artist. Let's journey back. PERFORMANCE ART AS (DANGEROUS) EMPOWERMENT As a bright-eyed Serbian student, Abramovic took the leap over to Western Europe during the '70s and became a key player in the genesis of performance art. One of her earliest and most significant achievements has been reconfiguring the relationship between artist and audience. These were the first steps into participatory artworks, upending the standard passivity of the spectator. Her self-objectifying performance Rhythm 0 (1974) gave power to a particularly masochistic swarm of gallery-goers. Abramovic lay naked on a table next to a whole range of objects, including perfume, a rose, a feather, scissors, a scalpel and a gun loaded with one bullet. From decorative to sinister, these objects were used at the whim of participants who were compelled to decide whether to act or prevent an action. The situation escalated when Abramovic was cut with razor blades, the gun was held to her head, and rose thorns were pressed into her stomach. She is not being melodramatic when she claims that art is a matter of life and death. Over a period of decades, she has subjected herself to demanding physical conditions, cultivating an ability to push through pain barriers and enter a trance like state during performances. This has allowed her to build a strong sense of power and resilience. Image: Marina Abramovic, Rhythm 0 (1974) PERFORMANCE ART AS TRUST AND ENDURANCE Abramovic began performing with artist and former life partner Ulay (Uwe Laysiepen) in 1976. They became the power couple of the ‘80s art world, united by a compulsion to examine consciousness. They also shared the strength-through-pain ethos that Abramovic had been working on as a solo artist. Many of their works come across as if they are trying to fuse themselves together or create a combined self. In one performance, Relation in Space (1976), they ran at each other repeatedly, violently knocking bodies. After 12 years of artistic and personal companionship, Abramovic and Ulay parted ways in an epic gesture of farewell. Beginning their journey from opposite ends of the Great Wall of China — Abramovic from the Yellow Sea and Ulay from the Gobi Desert — they travelled for 90 days before officially ending their relationship. PERFORMANCE ART AS ARTEFACT As Abramovic stepped up as a solo artist for the second time, she became passionate about preserving the craft of performance art, experimenting with alternative methods of documentation. At one point, she stated that there are to be no repetitions of this kind of art — you cannot have a substitute for the real experience. However, the artist broke this rule when staging the spectacular series Seven Easy Pieces (2003), which paid homage to the pioneers of performance art. Piecing together fragmented records, Abramovic recreated ephemeral performances by Bruce Nauman, Vito Acconci, Valie Export, Gina Pane and Joseph Beuys, putting her own individual spin on them. The re-enactments took place over seven days at the Guggenheim Museum. Of course, the relationship between art and the archive can be tricky business, particularly with regard to preserving the spontaneity and integrity of the original event. In any case, Abramovic’s pedagogical project is ongoing. The Abramovic Institute was a Kickstarter-funded initiative which took off in 2013, dedicated to durational performance and interdisciplinary research. Image: Marina Abramovic performing Gina Pane's The Conditioning in Seven Easy Pieces (2003). PERFORMANCE ART AS MINDFULNESS From 2010 onward, Abramovic seems to have a newfound subtlety and quietness. More recently there have been fewer clanging bodies and life-threatening situations. Unlike her earlier performances, she is expending energy in a different way, deeply influenced by Eastern spirituality and mindfulness. A good example of this would be the massively hyped retrospective at MoMA drew in approximately 750,000 people. Spread across six floors of the gallery, the 2010 exhibition was unprecedented in scale. The centrepiece of the show, The Artist Is Present, showcased the shamanistic Abramovic, silently projecting energy into her sitters for eight hours a day, every day. Surely, there is an element of narcissism here. While Abramovic has built a solid legacy of groundbreaking performances, she may be coasting on charisma these days, inviting the public to bathe in her superstar status. Regardless of this cynical thought, there is something compelling about The Artist Is Present. It is testament to Abramovic that a piece which could have easily lapsed into tacky sensationalism turned out to be profoundly moving. Image: Marina Abramovic, The Artist Is Present (2010) PREFORMANCE ART AS A BRAND Today, Abramovic has become a brand in and of herself. However, contrary to her popularity, performance art isn’t the most lucrative trade. Her works don’t actually fetch much — a mere fraction of the kind of money thrown at Jeff Koons and Damien Hirst. While criticism levelled at Abramovic may strike the occasional chord of truth (mainly in regard to her potential narcissism and theatricality), some of it seems like the product of stuffy art world insiders who see celebrity collaborations as tainting the intellectual heritage of performance art. They're quick to denounce 'sell-outs', but that very term seems to imply a big divide between high art and popular culture. Abramovic is responsible for pioneering some of the most significant aspects of performance art — arguably she has a degree of ownership over them. So why shouldn't she be able to use these techniques however she sees fit? Why not use Lady Gaga as the face of The Abramovic Method? If Marina Abramovic has made performance art more accessible for a new generation, that’s a good thing. Marina Abramovic: In Residence is on at Pier 2/3 in Sydney June 24 to July 5. It's free to attend, but be prepared to queue.
After yesterday's Oscar snub, Richard Linklater could be looking at another go at Boyhood. Maybe. According to a probably-too-hopeful Flavorwire, the director has tossed up the epic idea of creating a sequel to the Best Picture nominee 12-years-in-the-making. In a recent podcast interview with Jeff Goldsmith, Linklater was asked about a potential sequel; an idea he had blatantly discarded until recently. But there could be a glimmer of possibility for the already Academy Award-winning director. "To be honest… this film first met its audience exactly a year ago and for the first six months of the year, my answer to that was absolutely not. This was 12 years, it was first grade through 12th grade; it was about getting out of high school. I had no idea about another story, there’s nothing to say. It hadn’t crossed my mind. "But I don’t know if it’s been a combination of finally feeling that this is over or being asked a similar question a bunch over the last year, that I thought, well, I wake up in the morning thinking, 'the 20s are pretty formative, you know?' That's where you really become who you’re going to be. It’s one thing to grow up and go to college, but it’s another thing to… So, I will admit my mind has drifted towards [a sequel]." Sure, this isn't a confirmation, but we can dream. Could we see another Before trilogy set-up happening with Boyhood? Poor Ellar Coltrane thought he was out of the water. Via Flavorwire.
If someone hasn't already reminded you that today is the first of March (with a petrified look of a person on the brink of a mid-life crisis, no less), this bit of news should well and truly confirm that summer is over. Vivid Sydney has this morning given us the first tidbit from their 2017 program, announcing indie folk-rock band Fleet Foxes as their first visiting artist. The US band will bring their bright dance-around-the-forest songs to the Sydney Opera House for four exclusive shows on May 26–29 this year. These will be the band's only shows in Australia — and their first here in five years — so tickets will be allocated via a ballot system. Anyone who sat online to get (or miss out on) tickets to the Opera House's Bon Iver show last year will appreciate this method of allocation. Fans of Fleet Foxes will know the band have been extremely quiet of late; they haven't released an album since Helplessness Blues back in 2011. The band is set to release their third album this year — which, according to Consequence of Sound, is called Ylajali — and has already locked in some European tour dates post-Vivid, meaning that we could potentially be the first to hear their new material. The Fleet Foxes gig is the first announcement for Vivid 2017, which will this year run from May 26 until June 17. The full program will be announced later this month. That should get you excited for winter. Fleet Foxes will play four shows at the Sydney Opera House from May 26–29. The ballot is open now until 11.59pm on Sunday, March 5. You can enter here.
There's not many a cover artist can teach David Bowie about music. But when the art-glam-rock king heard Seu Jorge perform his hits acoustically, in Portuguese, for The Life Aquatic, he said he heard a whole "new level of beauty". That's certainly no easily-earned praise. Jorge, who cut his deep yet irresistibly tender voice in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, will make his debut Australian performance at Sydney Festival. He’ll be playing an array of his famous, unique interpretations, as well as a bunch of originals, accompanied by a delicious mix of Latin and Caribbean beats, in both live and electronic form. Seu Jorge is one of our top ten picks of the Sydney Festival. Check out our other favourite events over here.
One of Melbourne's cult burger heroes is headed across state lines. Master purveyors of awesome, unpretentious, American-style hamburgers, Huxtaburger is firing up its grill at Harpoon Harry in Surry Hills for one weekend only. Expect queues. Big ones. The pop-up Huxtaburger will be flipping wagyu patties from 5–10pm on Saturday, July 25 and again the same time on Sunday. Hungry carnivores will be able to choose from a number of different varities including the classic Huxtaburger (beef patty with mustard, mayo, tomato sauce, tomato, cheese, lettuce and pickles), the Denise (regular huxtaburger with jalapeno and sriracha mayo) and the Clair (southern fried chicken with slaw and mayo), while the Sondra (tofu burger with sesame mayo) means there's an option for vegetarians as well. They'll also be serving up crinkle cut chipotle chips and plenty of cold, cold beer. The pop-up cook-out will also double as the launch party for head chef Daniel Wilson's new book, The Huxtaburger Book: The Art & Science of the Perfect Burger. 'Perfect' is a pretty bold claim, but frankly we'll be too busy licking our fingers and lining up for seconds to argue with him. Wilson will be on hand in case you want to pick up a signed copy, in either ink or tomato sauce. Harpoon Harry's previously hosted a weekend residency for Melbourne fried chicken joint Belle's Hot Chicken in June, to considerable success. Assuming the long distance foodie loving continues, we've got our fingers crossed for a Shawcross Pizza pop-up in August. Huxtaburger will pop up at Harpoon Harry on Saturday, July 25 and Sunday, July 26 from 5–10pm. Find Harpoon Harry at 40/44 Wentworth Ave, Surry Hills.
Usually you'd have to fork out quite the cash bundle to enjoy some apres ski wonderment, but there's a brand new pop-up coming to Sydney that skips the ski lodge bill. Making a little winter wonderland of the former space of Darlinghurst's Victoria Room, The Chalet is set to be Sydney's temporary little winter ski lodge. According to Good Food, the space will come decked out with an in-house snowmaking machine, fondue stations, a jaffle bar and even a chairlift above the entrance stairs (yeah, it's probably not exactly a working one but can you imagine if it carried you upstairs?). Now, that's theming. So who's behind this adorable wintry endeavour? Some of Sydney's finest theme-happy hospotality kings are at the helm of The Chalet, namely The Lobo Plantation's Eddie Levy and Michael Hwang and The Island's Adam Abrams and Julian Tobias. Taking time off their upcoming restaurant at the InterContinental Sydney Double Bay, the foursome have created quite the winter go-to; blending their proven decorating skills with all the mulled wine and hot chocolate you could want after a long cold day's trudgery. The Chalet will be open for three months where The Victoria Room used to be. According to GF, the space will then be handed over to a yet-to-be-announced team for a more permanent new spot. Find The Chalet at 235 Victoria St, Darlinghurst from Thursday, June 25 at 5pm. Via Good Food. Images: Dollar Photo Club and The Chalet. View all Sydney Bars.
Whatever you're doing between 4pm and 5pm this afternoon, we suggest you cancel it. You now have more pressing concerns. Two words: free doughnuts. Rest assured, we would never joke about something this delicious. For one hour only, the legends at Doughnut Time really will be handing out their mouthwatering morsels, free of charge, at their Topshop pop-up stores. And we thought we couldn't love the folks that brought us burger-doughnut hybrids, vegan doughnuts and doughnut delivery any more than we already do. Those with a hankering for doughy goodness — which includes you, let's be honest — just need to head on down to Topshop in the Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane CBD once the clock strikes four. We recommend arriving early, because if there's one thing everyone loves, it's devouring sweet treats without having to pay for the privilege. Students keen on doing some shopping can also nab 10 percent off their Topshop purchases, in case you needed any more incentive to rush along. Basically, Monday just got a whole lot brighter and tastier. Free doughnuts will do that. For more information, visit the Doughnut Time Facebook page.
The story of a young man staring down the barrel of an arranged marriage even as he finds himself falling head over heels for someone else, Ali's Wedding has been billed as Australia's first Muslim rom-com. It's an intriguing tag that could prove either a hook or a hindrance when it comes to attracting a mainstream audience. The good news? The film is fantastic. Director Jeffrey Walker and writer/star Osamah Sami (on whose life the story is closely based), have crafted a hilarious, heartwarming film about love, community and living up to the expectations of your family; a film that both embraces difference and celebrates the things that make us the same. And yet with the film due to hit cinemas on August 31, the question still remains: will local audiences be willing to embrace a story about a Muslim immigrant, in which there is hardly a white character in sight? "We're right on the edge of finding out," says Walker. "The way that I view it is: we've had thousands and thousands of people come and view the film, from small communities to big cities to festivals, and the feeling is the same. I think people go in, particularly if they're of a conservative background or whatever, already a little bit dubious. They go in, perhaps, with a preconceived notion. But the one comment we've had throughout all of the screenings is that by the end of the film there's a great deal of love and appreciation… and the sense is that once people have seen it, [they realise that] the things that we all have in common far outweigh the differences." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEMeZDmvYhs ON REPRESENTING A (SLIGHTLY) DIFFERENT WORLD TO YOUR OWN "In the journey of this film, I came in quite late," says Walker. "But it's relative, because [it took] about seven years to bring all the pieces together. Osamah originally told Tony Ayres of Matchbox Pictures a story about his life, and that spurred on Tony to go and chat to [co-screenwriter] Andrew Knight." "They spent a long time writing it, they spent a long time financing it, they spent a long time bringing it all together," says Walker. "I was fortunate in some regards in that I joined it at the point that it was fully financed." Walker does admit to having a sense of hesitation in attaching himself to a project set in a world he knew so little about. "I loved the story, but there was an intimidating edge to it, because I also felt like I didn't want to do the community any injustice," he says. "But rereading it I almost just discounted all that, and went really to what I thought was the heart of the film, and the story, and the characters. From there I saw what the universal things and qualities were, and I felt like I could work with that." WORKING WITH OSAMAH According to Walker, one of the keys to the film's success was his collaborative relationship with Sami — both on screen and off. "I think the very first time we met he was going to take me out to visit a couple of mosques in Melbourne, and basically begin our journey working out how we were going to approach this film," Walker recalls. "So I met him much more as a writer, and in his capacity as an associate producer, than I did as the leading actor of the film. We struck up a great friendship, and making him feel proud and happy of this film has been a great motivator for me throughout the entire journey." "He made me feel extremely comfortable, and he was so open, and tolerated all my ridiculous and stupid questions," Walker continues. "Even when I think about asking them now, it's a bit like the ABC series You Can't Ask That. I just had to go there. But then I had a greater understanding of who he was, of who his family is, and of his world and his community. He gave me the confidence to be able to tell this story." ARE AUSTRALIANS READY FOR THIS FILM? As our interview with Walker comes to a close, our conversation returns to how audiences are likely to react to the film. "My desperate hope for the film is that while you might initially be trying to play catch-up on what it is to be in a mosque, or what's unique about being in a Muslim household, eventually that all washes away as you see that, ultimately, the [things] that young people go through in their twenties in the Muslim community is a version of exactly what someone with a Western background goes through," he says. As for any Australians who might be clinging to anti-immigrant views, Walker's message is simple. "We're a very young country. For anyone to stand with any sense of entitlement to Australia whose family history only goes back four or five generations is an odd standpoint from my point of view… the only people in Australia who deserve any entitlement are the Indigenous people, and the rest of us all just need to get along. We all travelled an immigrant's path to be here." Ali's Wedding screens at the Melbourne International Film Festival on August 10, and releases in cinemas on August 31.
Having established itself as a summer favourite in Adelaide, Brisbane, and Melbourne over the last few years, The Royal Croquet Club is finally gearing up for its Sydney debut. After a false start last year — in which the event was cancelled at the last minute — the outdoor festival is set to take over Bondi Beach next month. Gracing the shoreline from November 24 to December 4, the ten-day event promises all the fun and flavour of its interstate incarnations, offering up a buffet of live entertainment, experiential arts, food, drink, and — of course — more than a few games of croquet. The al fresco festival will see revellers of all ages and skill levels hitting the central croquet pitch, with some of Sydney's best food on hand for refuelling in between games. And the fun continues away from the mallets too, with a lineup of local and international artists dishing up live tunes, and an assortment of unique pop-up food stalls and bars for further indulging in that summertime spirit. While there's no word yet on who exactly will be feeding us at this year's event, previous festivals have seen Gelato Messina serve up ice cream creations in Campbell's Soup-like tins — so we've got pretty high expectations. Fashion stalls, markets, and an array of health and wellness events will round out the RCC experience, which is expected to pull a 60,000-strong crowd for its first Sydney stint. The Royal Croquet Club Sydney will come to Bondi Beach from Thursday, November 24 to Sunday, December 4. For more information as they announce it, check back here or visit royalcroquetclub.com.au.
Still Life, directed by Dimitris Papaioannou (the man who gave us the pomp and splendour of the Athens Olympics opening and closing ceremonies), is a series of unique individual performances combining to form a hallucination concocted by the director's mind. Inspired by the myth of Sisyphus, the Corinthian king tasked to roll a boulder up a hill for all eternity, Papaioannou tasks his actors with eccentric feats that call to mind the mundane drudgery we face every day. Especially Mondays. The character of Sisyphus has inspired philosophers from Kafka to Camus, spurring them to assert that happiness can be found in the acceptance of our lot, and in the revolt against the melancholia that can result. In Still Life, Papaioannou shines the light of this continental philosophy on the lives of his audience. This is one of 15 next-level events to see at Sydney Festival. Check out the whole list.
New South Wales' Three Blue Ducks is crossing state borders and laying down roots along the Brisbane River. The eatery has just been announced as the signature restaurant at the soon-to-launch W Brisbane this April. Set in the luxury hotel, the design will hone in on Queensland's laidback vibe and complement the brand's paddock-to-plate ethos by featuring earthy tones, hanging greenery and the use of raw materials. The restaurant is part of the lush new Brisbane Quarter development, which is slated to include an office tower, apartments and two levels of retail. Famed chefs Darren Robertson, Andy Allen and Mark LaBrooy will be serving up their signature menu of sustainably and ethically sourced eats all day, with the seasonal menu featuring local produce from both Queensland and northern New South Wales. The kitchen features a woodfired oven, a rotisserie and charcoal pit, along with a cold seafood section with Moreton Bay bugs, spanner crab and oysters on offer. Many of the venue's much loved dishes will also make an appearance, including the coal-roasted lamb with parsnip puree, burnt shallots and fresh peas; the crab scramble with green mango, bean shoot salad, house-made Sriracha and cashews; and the corn fritters with guacamole, fermented cabbage, herb salad, labneh and poached eggs. For drinks, they're slinging original cocktails, local craft beers and top-notch coffees, just like they do down south. "When approached by W Hotel to embark on a Three Blue Ducks venture in Brisbane, it was important to us to ensure that we shared the same values and sustainable business practices," says the brand's co-owner, Jeff Bennett. "Although our current venues greatly differ in aesthetic, our philosophy and ethos remain very much the same and we can't wait to work alongside W Brisbane with views over the Brisbane River." W Brisbane is set to open at 81 North Quay, Brisbane on March 15, with Three Blue Ducks opening in April. For more info on the hotel, visit the website.
This weekend the Wayward Brewing Co. is throwing a serious bash down their Camperdown laneway. Gehrig Lane will close to traffic and the weekend will focus on a live art display by well-known Sydney street artists Skulk and Birdhat, along with other local artists exhibitions inside the brewery’s 1900s wine caves. The music side of things will take over on Sunday, with local DJ Michael McGlinn spinning in the laneway while a host of Sydney musicians front acoustic sets inside. Food trucks and drinks will be available from noon each day, so you can see some awesome art, listen to tunes and enjoy all things craft. The Wayward Laneway Arts Festival is one of 58 stops on the Leichhardt Open Studio Trail (LOST) held in conjunction with Art Month and Spectrum Now Festival. It will take place on Saturday, March 12 from 11am-10pm and Sunday, March 13 from 11am-9pm. WAYWARD LANEWAY ARTS FESTIVAL SUNDAY MUSIC LINEUP 12pm — Tenderfoot 1pm — Jamie Lindsay 2pm — Crystal Cities 3pm — John Dixon 4pm — Craig Woodward 5pm — Hannah Robinson 6pm — Hannah Brewer
Attend the Sydney Festival without leaving the comfort of your couch. Dutch composer Michel van der Aa and Aussie singer-songwriter Kate Miller-Heidke have collaborated to bring you a dreamy, digital choose-your-own-adventure. In fact, you can pop over here and download it right away. The Book of Sand is not just any swashbuckling pirate's tale. It's an artwork, combining beautiful visuals with sound. Visitors choose between three different worlds (or 'film layers'): a stone gallery, a cellar or a desolate desert, where they meet Miller-Heidke singing while exploring her surroundings. Deftly defying conventions, the music moves from one genre to another, shifting between abstract electronica, alt-pop and a cappella, which is where Nederlands Kamerkoor, an extraordinary independent Dutch choir, comes in.
Sydney's Royal Botanic Garden turns 200 in June — and it's landed itself one humdinger of a birthday present. Meet The Calyx, the Garden's new world-class horticultural experience. Opened to coincide with the official opening date of the Botanic Gardens on June 13, 1816, 200 years ago, this dazzling new UFO-shaped public space not only houses thousands and thousands of plants, but gives Sydneysiders an escape from the city's busy streets and relentless traffic. It also provides a new outdoor home for fun, innovative exhibitions. The first, now open, is Sweet Addiction, an interactive adventure through the botanic story of chocolate, from bean to bar. Starting your journey deep in a tropical rainforest, you'll see, touch and smell your way through ancient lands and chocolate plantations, before reaching a tasty pop-up shop — the site for many future chocolate activities and tastings. Also part of the show is a collection of 18,000 plants, which are arranged as living artworks. Together, they form the biggest green wall in the Southern Hemisphere, measuring six metres in height and 285 square metres in area. Move over, Patrick Blanc. (Mind you, we can't deny that One Central Park's wall is looking prettier with every passing day.) Of course, the coming of The Calyx hasn't been good for the Pyramid Glasshouse, which, as you might've noticed, has disappeared into the night. That said, things are looking up for The Arc. Designed by Ken Woolley, the impressive piece of architecture is staying put and has scored a mega revamp. In fact, it's set to become part of the new building, which will be made up of a blend of indoor and outdoor spaces. Their north facing position will let in oodles of light, maximising environmental performance and providing plenty of sun-drenched spots for you to kick back in. "The Calyx is a fusion of art, theatre and flora, with themed exhibitions that address conservation and environmental issues in an imaginative, accessible way yet to be seen in Australia," said Jimmy Turner, Director of Horticulture Management at the Royal Botanic Garden. "It's Broadway for plants."
Summer is coming to an end, whether Sydneysiders and the recent thirty degree days like it or not. As temperatures cool, the second season of the FCxMCA also draws to a close on Sunday, April 10, and they're going out with their biggest show yet. For lucky ticketholders, the "all star lineup" will remain a secret until Sunday, but with the FC roster including the likes of Flume, Little Dragon, Chet Faker and Classixx, it's sure to be one big bang of a show. Held on the MCAs sculpture terrace, each of the monthly series has sold out for the second year running. This season saw kickass acts like Danish duo Kenton Slash Demon, African poet Sampa The Great and NYC's Anthony Naples. The collaboration between music, contemporary art and just an overall fun night out is a much needed cultural comeback in a locked out Sydney.
Australia's creative industry is about to get pretty damn employed — the new Alien and Thor movies will be filmed in Australia. Announced by the Federal Government in a press conference broadcast on ABC News 24 today, the films will start filming in 2016. The Australian government is fronting $47 million so the two films can be made in the country. "What it means is 3000 direct jobs for Australians," said senator Mitch Fifield. "This helps develop skills, skills that couldn't be developed on smaller budget productions." When briefing the cabinet, Senator Fifield apparently got pretty excited about the fact that Prometheus had a character called Fifield, until ol' mate industry and innovation minister Christopher Pyne piped up, "He died." Sir Ridley Scott's new Alien film and Marvel's new Thor film will start filming in 2016. We're pretty sure the casts of both movies will be advised to leave their dogs at home. Via SMH.
Your favourite late-night venue is throwing a halloween house party. It's this weekend, not next weekend (Halloween is on an awkward Monday this year). As is the Kings Cross Hotel party tradition, each level will have a different DJ playing their own style of music. Go underground for R&B and hip-hop favourites, to the ground floor for celebratory halloween pop anthems (we bet Thriller will play multiple times), the balcony will be all about guilty pleasures that tread a fine line between cringe and glory, and the rooftop will host the DJs you know and love from Kings Cross Hotel. FlexMami, Palms DJs, Shag and Mowgli May will all be spinning their tunes across the four floors. Entry is $10 on the door, and it all kicks off at 9pm. Dressing up is, of course, encouraged.
This Easter long weekend, there's a damn good new reason to ditch the road trip plans. Glebe is set to host the inaugural Coloursound Festival, a brand new music, craft beer, food and culture festival happening from March 24-27. Yup, that's one big mouthful of awesomeness. The four-day event is being organised by local Glebe resident and event manager Joshua McBeath, in partnership with The Record Crate. In an effort to bring the community together with independent bands, artists and local businesses, McBeath has curated one serious lineup of live acts, performances, exhibitions and craft beer events. The Record Crate has long been a champion of the live music and craft beer combo, so their involvement is a no-brainer. With 70+ performances across 13 Glebe spaces, the suburb will be rocking nonstop for the entire weekend. Local Sydney bands like Dead Radio and Suixx will be joined by Victorian imports Terrible Truths and Contrast, among many, many others. That's just the music side. Staves Brewery will also play a major role, including the 'world record tankard challenge', a craft beer showdown, tastings and giveaways from the likes of Merchant, Feral, Badlands and Nomad brewing companies. These events will run alongside an Altairzine photography exhibition, zine fair, and Mug and Kettle comedy festival. Markets and live art installations will also be popping up throughout the weekend. Discounts and special offers will be available across upward of 10 popular Glebe Point Road joints, including Flying Fajita Sisters, Badde Manors, and one of Glebe's newer favourites, Thievery. Tickets range from $5 one-day passes to $75 all-access — which includes access to, well, everything, but most notably to all 25 bands that will play at The Record Crate's upstairs live room. For a lineup this jam packed, it's some serious bang-for-your-buck action. Coloursound Festival will run from 8pm on Thursday, March 24 through Sunday, March 27. Checkout Eventbrite for the full program. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
Your days of stealing liberating those tiny IKEA pencils may soon be coming to an end. According to reports, the Australian arm of the Swedish furniture giant will launch its online store by the end of 2016, ahead of a global e-commerce platform in the next two years. About damn time. Now here's hoping it's less stressful to navigate than their actual physical locations. Due to go live in the next six months, the online store will let shoppers order IKEA's unpronounceable furniture from the comfort of their MALM bed frames. The company plans to trial various pick-up methods, including smaller physical stores that double as pick-up points, as well as the use of third party depots. IKEA Australia hopes the web initiative will help boost profits, which, as it stands, are expected to pass the $1 billion mark for the first time later this year. Their online store in the UK is the most popular IKEA outlet in the country, presumably because you don't need to pack a week's worth of provisions to make it to the checkout. Speaking of provisions, it is currently unclear whether you'll be able to use the online store to order IKEA's meatballs. Fingers crossed though. Via The Sydney Morning Herald.
For many moons, there’s been a secret passed around the ranks of students and young adults: Aldi sells $5 wine that’s actually not awful. In fact, those who’ve sampled it would know that ‘not awful’ isn’t strong enough. Now an official ruling body has declared what we young bohemians have known for a while now: Aldi’s $5 wine is objectively good wine. The Sydney International Wine Competition has announced its winning wine list for 2015, judging the top 100 wines from an entry pool of nearly 2000 and Aldi’s $5 bottle of 2014 South Point Estate rose has picked up a Blue Gold award in its blend category (just FYI the Blue Gold award is official proof that Aldi wine drinkers actually have good taste and aren’t just peasants). Aldi also won awards for their $12.99 bottle of Tudor Central Victorian shiraz and a $14.99 Blackstone Paddock “The Player” Barossa. So ner. So what do the judges look for in a good wine? Well firstly, the competition acknowledges that not all wines are created equal so they divide the plonk into categories according to palate weight – lighter, medium, fuller bodied dry whites (lol at wine terminology sounding like a sick burn) and dry reds. The wines are judged solo, then judged against other wines in each category. Then they pair each category with appropriate food and score on how well each variation complement the flavours of the meal. Then, and only then, do they aggregate the scores and hand out awards in each category. Check out the website to scope out the rest of the results and figure out the best and cheapest wine for your taste. But how do Aldi manage to sell an award winning wine for only $5? Aldi’s buying director told The Huffington Post that the secret is in the low overheads, a simplified range to cut distribution costs and understanding the young consumer. Oh Aldi, you do understand us. All we want in this life of sin is a $5 bottle of award-winning wine. We're just gonna leave this link to Aldi Liqueur online here, along with the fact that they deliver a case of 12 wines to metro areas for only $7. Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals. Via The New Daily. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
Sydney's annual reminder that you're severely underdressed on a daily basis, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival (MBFF) has announced its Sydney lineup for 2015. The sister event to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is locked in to once again take over Sydney Town Hall over September 24-26, and will send sparkly couture gown after angular pantsuit down the runway over three well-tailored days of runway collections, beauty workshops and photography masterclasses. And gift bags. Don't forget the gift bags. There'll be three designer runway shows this year, showcasing Australia's dirt-on-your-shoulder swag in fashion design. 'Australian Luxe' will feature the likes of Dion Lee, Josh Goot, Christopher Esber, and Streateas.Carlucci., while 'Ready-to-wear' will pick out the highlights of this year's Fashion Week, from Romance Was Born and Alice McCall to Manning Cartell, Bec & Bridge and Kate Sylvester. Then 'Red Carpet Runway' will show you all the eveningwear you'd casually wear to pick up your BAFTA, from Alex Perry to Zhivago, Rachel Gilbert and Steven Khalil. Whether you're keen to see a runway show for the first time or you're a Instagram-dominating fashion show veteran, this is one Sydney spring fashion event worth checking out. Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival runs September 24-26 at Sydney Town Hall. Tickets range from $50-140, head to the website for more info. Via Ragtrader.
"The things you own end up owning you." With that one memorable line, Fight Club's Tyler Durden became an unexpected forebear to the current trend for minimalism. But we've got news for you, declutterers and ascetics: even with all that absence of stuff in your life, the experts can still tell a lot about you as a person. Meet Sam Gosling, professor of psychology at the University of Texas and self-styled 'snoopologist' (good word, you have to hand it to him). He's the author of Snoop: What Your Stuff Says About You, a book that explores how we project our personality in the spaces we create, and also how the spaces we inhabit influence our inner lives. He literally spends his life poking around bedrooms, offices, wardrobes, cars — anything you think is private is Gosling's lab. Ahead of his talk at Wired for Wonder in Sydney, we spoke with Sam about interior decorators, capitalism and our definitely awesome book collections. Can you give me a quick rundown of what you’ll be discussing at Wired for Wonder? I’ll be discussing how people affect space and how spaces affect people — both deliberately and inadvertently. There are things we can do — obvious things — to try and signal something to someone, but there are also things we’re less self-aware of. It’s these things that I pick up on and use to reveal things about the person who lives or works or socialises in that space. Based on what you see in someone’s house, can you tell what someone’s political leaning might be? We did some research in the US a few years ago which produced some surprising results. I think most people think that people interested in the arts tend to be closer to the left. But we found art and books about art have no relation to political orientation. However, we did find that someone who has sports-related decor in their space is likely to be more conservative, politically speaking. That said, it’s not so much what someone's interested in, as the number of things they're interested in. On average, if you have a narrow scope of interests, you’re more likely to be politically conservative. What do you think about professionally designed interiors? They can work ... but only if the client is genuinely able to convey what it is that they really want. Most people are actually pretty clueless about what will make them happy. When it comes to interior design people see things in magazines or on Pinterest and go, “There! That’s exactly what I want!” But the problem with this kind of wish-list making is that it’s impersonal. I work with the architect Christopher Travis – he’s amazing, a real visionary. He doesn’t ask his clients to describe their dream house. He starts by asking things like, “Tell me about a time in your life when you felt protected, loved. Now tell me about the physical space you were in.” And people will say things like, “My best memories are weekends away at my grandparents’ house when I was a kid learning to ride my bike on the gravel side road.” He’ll then somehow incorporate gravel into the design. Then again, trying to replicate an interior someone found on Pinterest might be important to them because they want their space to be on trend. So Christopher will ask other questions like, “What is it you want the space to say to your friends? Who do you want to be to these people?” I saw In the Basement at Sydney Film Festival. It’s an Austrian documentary about what some people get up to in their basements. There was an older, childless woman who kept a collection of dolls in shoes boxes. They were those dolls that looked incredibly life-like. She nursed them like real babies. I felt sad that these people had to hide away their passions, that their home wasn’t really a place they could express themselves. The thing is, the home has both public and private spaces. People put very different things in the living room than in their bedroom or the guest bedroom. That’s obvious enough. People may hide things away in a basement because those things are shameful — they may not be ashamed, but they think others will judge them. The other reason is because most of us want a space of our own even if we live with other people. The garden shed is at the back of the garden because it’s full of clutter, but it’s also out of the way because people go there to disconnect physically and psychically from the people they live with. Book collections can be revealing. Of course, what you own doesn’t always represent what you’ve actually read. I'm always a bit suspect when I see a whole shelf of those orange-covered, new-release Penguin Classics. Right. Apparently there are more Ramones T-shirts in circulation than there are Ramones records! That is, if you signal that you like The Ramones people will think you like a fleet of other stuff and have certain values. Our music and reading materials are increasingly being digitised. What are literary types turning to to flaunt their cultural cred? It might be harder for literary types to flaunt their hard copy libraries, but for researchers, the switch to soft copies of everything makes it much easier to gather data. I don’t just look at homes and workplaces; I’m very interested in how people display themselves on social media, too. Of course, on social media you can signal to your community what you’ve bought or what you’re listening to. In an article about the rise of minimalist living in this month’s New Philosopher, Oliver Burkeman writes, “Minimalism might be little more than the purging phase of consumer capitalism’s cycle of binge and purge.” Do you think it’s a genuine revolt or just a trend? Trend. Sam Gosling is the author of Snoop: What Your Stuff Says About You. He will be speaking at Wired for Wonder, which is on in Sydney on August 26–27 at the NIDA Parade Theatre and Melbourne on August 28 at Central Pier Shed 14. Top image: Dollar Photo Club.
When you picture a summer cocktail, you'll often picture a big, colourful jug filled to the brim with summer fruit and citrus. But more often than not, this grand idea doesn't become a reality. It's hot in summer. Who can be bothered to devote time to complex cocktails? You want something simple — something light and refreshing, in a cold glass with condensation rolling down the sides. At Grey Goose's Boulangerie Bleue waterside mansion party this summer, one of the summery drinks served was the Le Grand Fizz — a refreshing combination of vodka with soda water, elderflower liqueur and lime. We asked Grey Goose's lively global ambassador Joe McCanta to show us how to make this variation on the classic vodka soda combination we know and love — so we can whip it up the next time a cocktail craving strikes us on a summer afternoon. It's simple to make. Just pop some ice into a glass, then add vodka and sweetness (in the form of St Germain elderflower liqueur). Top the drink with two wedges of fresh lime, and stir with freshly opened, fizzy soda water. The result is an easy, refreshing cocktail with citrus and floral flavours. If you've never used elderflower in a cocktail before, St Germain has a bouquet of soft, sherbet lemon notes, with pear and passionfruit. It's a floral liqueur that easily spices up a simple drink. Follow Joe, and learn to recreate the Le Grand Fizz for yourself this summer. LE GRAND FIZZ 45ml Grey Goose Vodka 20ml St Germain Elderflower Liqueur 3 lime wedges 3 wedges of fresh lime chilled soda water Build in an oversized cabernet wine glass with lots of ice. Add Grey Goose Vodka and St Germain. Squeeze two of the fresh lime wedges into the drink and discard. Top with chilled soda water. Stir and garnish with fresh lime wedge. Grey Goose Vodka's 'discover' function will tell you what cocktail you're perfectly suited for — answer four simple questions and start stirring. Dive into the luxury that your city has to offer — check out our Luxe Guide to Sydney and Melbourne. Food, spas, glamorous hotels and extraordinary experiences are waiting. Image: Steve Woodburn.
For the first time this year, New Years Eve revellers will get to see Sydney’s fireworks from a no-longer-under-construction Barangaroo Reserve. The park will be hosting its own party, with 10,000 tickets going on sale on Wednesday, November 11 at 9am. And, at $29.50 a pop (or $14.50 for concession holders), they’re not too pricey. The park’s Hickson Road gates will open at 6pm on Thursday, December 31. There’ll be ample space for picnicking on the Stargazer and Walumil lawns. Ticketholders can order a gourmet hamper in advance or grab a snack onsite. BYO alcohol isn’t allowed, but licensed areas will be offering celebratory beverages. And, in addition to the fireworks, there’ll be live music and performances. This year, the City of Sydney has set ‘City of Colour’ as its fireworks theme. Barangaroo carousers will be in a prime spot for checking out the world’s most famous pyrotechnics, as well as for viewing a new series of illuminations, set to appear on the Harbour Bridge’s western face. “We are delighted to be able to offer the public one of the most affordable and best value-for-money New Year’s Eve tickets in Sydney,” said Craig van der Laan, CEO of the Barangaroo Delivery Authority. “The Authority has run ticketed New Year’s Eve viewing in previous years, while Barangaroo Reserve was still under construction. These were a tremendous success. This year will be so much better with Barangaroo Reserve now complete. Guests will be able to sit on the lawns, buy food and beverages, and enjoy one of the most spectacular new views of Sydney in comfort.” He added that the 10,000 cap aims to keep visitors safe and comfy, while keeping neighbourhood hassle to a minimum. New Year's Eve at Barangaroo tickets go on sale Wednesday, November 11 at 9am from the website.
Get your hands on some high quality art, craft and furniture, via a new online auction service that donates all of its proceeds to charity. Created with Care is the result of a partnership between maker community marketplace Handkrafted and artist-to-buyer platform Bluethumb. Launching earlier this month, the online auction room has recruited a select number of Australian artists and furniture makers, who are auctioning off unique, handmade pieces for charities of their choice. Visitors to Created with Care can currently place bids on five different items, including a 3D artwork by Erin Nicholls and Lars Laug, and a hand painted wooden bowl by Stephen Ziguras and Anne Ellison. A number of additional pieces will come up for auction in the coming weeks, with bidding on all items closing at 5pm on Friday, June 10. Nominated charities range from bushfire relief to animal rescue to asylum seeker aid. Current bid only $525... Furniture maker Ben Percy @benpercydesigns and artist Salleigh Olsen @salleigholsenart collaborated to produce this beautiful work of art - with all proceeds of it's sale to be donated to StreetWork, a charity helping young troubled teenagers turn their lives around. You can place your bid and explore more of the #CreatedWithCare16 collaborations we have curated together with @bluethumbart at www.createdwithcare.com.au Made by re-sawing solid American Hickory (donated by @britton_timbers) and as the seat and backrest are separately supported, the laminated legs 'flex' as individuals sit down. A photo posted by Handkrafted (@handkraftedco) on Apr 25, 2016 at 12:49am PDT "Every day I look at incredible art, yet these pieces are beyond my greatest expectations," said Bluethumb co-founder Edward Hartley. "They have set the bar for future artists and crafters." To see what's up for auction and to place a bid, visit www.createdwithcare.com.au.
Confetti cannons up, we've got something bloody huge to celebrate. Announced this morning, Concrete Playground has been nominated for a 2016 Webby Award, in the category of General Website - Cultural Blog/Website. Look, we're not pulling your leg, here we are, with fellow nominees VICE, Nowness, Jazz at Lincoln Centre and Polygraph. So we're drinking prosecco for morning tea, what of it? Celebrating their 20th year, The Webbys have seen the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences handing out top tier awards since 1996, celebrating "excellence on the internet including websites, interactive advertising, online film and video and mobile content." Along with our mates and website designers Canvas Group, Concrete Playground is now celebrating our first ever Webby nomination. Concrete Playground founder and director Rich Fogarty was understandably excited. "FUUUUUUUUUCK!" he said in a statement this morning. Fellow Australian/NZ nominees include triple j's Hottest 100 site for Music (they're up against Beyonce's official site, kudos), and Trusted Housesitters — based in Australia as well as globally — for the Community category. Best part of the Webbys? Once the nominations have been announced, the winners are internet-voted. So you can give us a hand! Used CP to find your never-fail date spot (with BYO)? Chase more waterfalls nowadays? Look, we told you what nap desks are, so show us some love and vote for us. How about some ol' fashioned incentive? We're giving readers the chance to win a cheeky $1000 from your good mates at CP. To enter, all you have to do is vote for us on the Webby's website, email us a screenshot of the vote confirmation screen to cpftw@concreteplayground.com. That's it. Get on it. VOTE FOR CONCRETE PLAYGROUND HERE
Dating can be pretty tiring, but meeting a fellow dog lover is rather effortless. The speed dating experts at Dear Pluto know this better than any, so they've teamed up with Sydney Dogs and Cats Home to combine pups and love and bring us a rather smart dating idea. Puppy Love is the hopeless romantic, dog-loving, human-loving speed dating social. For an entire three hours you can hang out with a collection of pups while mingling with 20 eligible singles. You don't have to have a dog to attend, but you're encouraged to bring them along if you do — there will be more than enough water and treats to go around. There'll be a pop-up bar by Trolley'd, because speed dating can often benefit from a little liquid courage. With 100 percent of profits going towards the Home, there's no reason to avoid getting to know someone new over a drink and a playful game of fetch. If things don't go as planned, you can always follow your furry friend's lead and play dead?
A killer cast play cops and robbers in a down and dirty crime thriller set on the mean streets of LA. Triple 9 — a film whose script once earned a spot on the legendary Black List of the best unproduced screenplays in Hollywood — stars Casey Affleck, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Anthony Mackie and Norman Reedus as a group of crooked cops trapped in the web of the Russian mob. Throw in Woody Harrelson as an embittered detective and Academy Award winner Kate Winslet as a ruthless crim, and you can see why we've been looking forward to it for a while. Australian director John Hillcoat is no slouch either, having demonstrated his gift for adapting grim, compelling subject matter in earlier films like The Proposition and The Road. Just don't expect many laughs. [competition]560811[/competition]
Fact: having great camping gear automatically makes you good at camping. Or, it at least makes you look like you know what you're doing when you're outside of the city. Whether you're a seasoned camper, just a beginner, or just someone who hits up music festivals occasionally and wants to be that friend with a quality tent — everyone could do with a little camping gear. Thanks to Teva, we've got a whole bunch of it to give away. Whether you're hitting up a music festival this summer, or just planning on a weekend away, getting your hands on this camping gear will make your life a whole lot easier. There are two pairs of Teva's classic Arrowood Boots, a water bottle, two camping mugs, a beanie, a hat, a tent, a sleeping bag and a National Parks pass. That's a lot of really handy stuff. Enter your details below, say yes to the terms and conditions and you're in the running to win. Entries close on Sunday, December 4. Go go go. [competition]595510[/competition]
Film festival season is well and truly upon us, with the Scandinavian Film Festival the latest to unveil their 2017 lineup. Taking place across July and August, the Nordic-focused movie showcase will bring 20 new features to Palace Cinema screens around the country. Heading to the festival after its Australian premiere in Sydney Film Festival's official competition, The Other Side of Hope will kick off the Scandi cinema fun with a big-hearted look at one refugee's attempt to start a new life in Finland. Directed by Aki Kaurismäki (winner of the Silver Bear for best director at this year's Berlinale), it's an amusing yet insightful look at an important topic — as well as an enjoyable way to get the Scandinavian Film Festival underway for its fourth outing. With the 2017 selection also boasting titles from Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland, other highlights include World War II drama The King's Choice, which was shortlisted for this year's best foreign-language film category at the Academy Awards; biopic Tom of Finland, about one of the country's unorthodox international heroes; and closing night's A Hustler's Diary, which follows a petty criminal in the suburbs of Stockholm. Bittersweet romance One-Two-Three-Go!, Copenhagen-set arts scene satire The Man, stunningly shot coming-of-age effort Heartstone, and a theatrical version of popular Danish TV show 1864 also feature, as does Sami Blood, which explores the cultural oppression of Sweden's Sami people. Of course, because Nordic noir is everyone's insatiable genre pick since The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo became such a literary and film hit, the festival will also delve into darker territory. Audiences can get their brooding mystery fix with crime action-thriller Darkland, which has been compared to the films of Nicolas Winding Refn; black comedy Small Town Killers; and A Conspiracy of Faith, the third feature in the Department Q book-to-screen adaptations following The Keeper of Lost Causes and The Absent One. The Scandinavian Film Festival tours the country between July 11 and August 6, screening at Sydney's Palace Norton Street and Palace Verona from July 11 to August 2, Melbourne's Palace Cinema Como, Palace Brighton Bay and Palace Westgarth from July 13 to August 2, and Brisbane's Palace Barracks from July 20 to August 6. For the full program, visit the festival website.
Street art began as a decidedly out-of-the-white-cube phenomenon. But, now that it's established itself, Aussie multi-disciplinary artist Phibs is taking it back indoors for a look. And, with these icy temperatures being not too conducive to trudging about outside, we say hallelujah to that. Curated by Phibs and produced by aMBUSH Gallery, Metro Luminescence brings together 13 artists who usually work in the street — grappling with whatever space they can get, battling the elements and often painting and drawing under cover of darkness. But, on Level 3 of Central Park, they've had to respond to a new set of constraints — those imposed by four walls and a ceiling. Between Tuesday, June 7 and Friday, June 10, the graffiti writers, muralists, fine artists, photographers and sculptors spent four furious days working, and the results are now on display until July 10, viewable for free. Expect everything from large-scale pieces on canvas and installations to sketches and experiments.
Every month, Sydneysiders chuck out more than 500,000 disposable coffee cups. Given how much cheering’s been going on in reaction to the COP21 climate change agreement to transform the planet’s fossil fuel-driven economy, it feels like it’s about time we killed our trash habit, too. The good news is that a visionary company by the name of Frank Green wants to help us along. Founded in Melbourne, they’ve just expanded to Sydney and their business is the design creation and sale of SmartCups, which are quite possibly the most beautiful, well-conceived, reusable coffee cups you’ve ever seen. It’s not just us who are impressed, either – the SmartCup won the 2015 Good Design Award. The vessel is 100 percent Australian-made – every step of the way, from design to engineering to manufacturing – and an array of features puts it a cut above its competitors. It's made of premium, BPA-free, non-toxic materials, which are resistant to stain and odours, so you won’t get any weird tastes mixing with your Single Origin or Toby’s Estate. You only need one hand to open and close it, allowing for endless multitasking. And the lid is completely spill-proof. Add to that a double-walled, thermo layer to keep your brew hot; a non-slip grip; a flow-optimised drinking hole; the capacity to take regular and large coffee sizes; and loads of choices in terms of colours. Last but not least, you can actually pay for your coffee with your SmartCup. Frank Green and CafePay have got together to make this little slice of magic happen – the cup itself can facilitate secure cashless payments; keep track of your progress in loyalty programmes; help you find your favourite beans, café or barista; allow you to pre-order; and get you access to special discounts. Check out Frank Green's website for more info.
Tucked in behind the hub of Central Park, away from the traffic of Broadway, sits number 48 Kensington Street, a sandstone building that's been taken over by the natural world. Vines creep through the windows, run along the walls, and sneak under the doors. It's the home of Stoneleigh Hotel, a house by Stoneleigh wine that's been filled with overgrown plants, moss-covered furniture and of course, wine. From November 11 until December 3, there will be hosting workshops, classes, live music and entertainment among many, many wine tastings inside the hotel. It's all because of Stoneleigh wine and its relationship to nature. The vineyard is situated in New Zealand's iconic Marlborough region and sits atop an ancient riverbed that weaves its way through the vines. The stones that form the riverbed, called 'sun stones' by the winemakers, soak up all the sunlight during the day and release this heat come nightfall, ripening the grapes by moonlight. This is the philosophy behind their wines — they let Mother Nature do the work, just as they have within the Stoneleigh Hotel (kind of, it's a man-made overgrown hotel). The hotel immerses us in the natural processes that bring their wine to life, and brings a little bit of nature to our inner-city bubble. Take a look inside. THE GREAT WINING HALL Upon arriving at the Stoneleigh Hotel, guests will be greeted by the concierge and shown through to the Great Wining Hall. The room has been overrun by creeping vines, spreading roots and a canopy of leaves. Vines hang from the glass ceiling and high window sills, and a moss-covered armchair sits against the wall. Over the next few weeks workshops (like our own fermentation workshop with Cornersmith, stay tuned for details), events and live music will all happen here. Visitors will take their place at a banquet table covered in plants and be treated to a tasting session of the Stoneleigh range. The vast selection of wines extends to far beyond the Sauv Blanc that made the region famous, and there is no better place to sip on these wines than surrounded by this man-made version of the natural world that crafted them. THE WILD VALLEY BALLROOM Last year, Stoneleigh released their first vintage of the Wild Valley range, comprised of wines fermented entirely by the forces of nature. Natural fermentation (or wild fermentation) uses the micro-flora already present in the environment to ferment the grapes, rather than introducing foreign yeasts into the product. The result is a richer, more texturally intricate wine that's intense yet elegant on the palate. Now in its second vintage, Stoneleigh brings the Wild Valley range to life in the ballroom, where guests are treated to a taster of the unique vinos, as well as a thorough rundown on the process that shaped them. Just like the wines themselves, the ballroom is an emblem of the slow march of time and nature, unimpeded by the hand of man. This room has a wall of bubbling chemicals and moss-covered furniture. THE SAUV BLANC POWDER ROOM This part of the experience pays homage to one of the two main grape varietals that made the Marlborough region famous, the humble Sauvignon Blanc. No celebration of New Zealand wines would be complete without mention of the grape, and Stoneleigh won't break the mould. Step into a world that reflects the time that's passed in the hotel, surrounded by the forgotten belongings of guests that have long since passed. Amongst the thriving forest within the Powder Room are the personal effects of past visitors, man-made objects left to disappear inside the grips of time. Dresses and jewellery hang from the walls alongside a delicately cream-coloured dresser — light and airy like the wine that inspired it. THE PINOT NOIR STUDY The other grapes perfected by our brothers and sisters across the ditch is the elegant, delicate Pinot Noir. Notoriously the hardest grape to grow and prepare properly, Pinot lends an air of quiet distinction, and the study in the hotel reflects this. Inside the study, guests are treated to another tasting session, and are invited to aquaint themselves with the excess of possessions that have melted into the foliage that surround the room. Get amongst the jewellery, the clothing and the vintage slippers. Find the Stoneleigh Hotel is at 48 Kensington Street, Chippendale from November 11 until December 11. Images: Michael Wickham and Kimberley Low.
UPDATE: NOVEMBER 29, 2019 — Peck's first show has already sold out but — good news — he will be coming back after his Mona Foma performance for a second show on Tuesday, January 20. Tickets are on sale now. Before heading to Tassie to wow the crowds at Mona Foma, Canadian cowboy crooner Orville Peck will be at the Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent to inject a much-needed dose of camp into country music. Peck is something of an enigma, he only started performing earlier this year and the disguise he wears at all times (think the Lone Ranger's mask, with but with a fabulous fringe) means his identity has thus far remained a secret, although, obviously, rumours abound. He self produced his debut album, Pony, which was nominated for the Polaris Prize, Canada's most prestigious musical honour. It's 100 percent Nashville; zero percent bashful.
The National Gallery of Victoria has revealed what will be on its agenda at the tail-end of this year, this evening announcing its summer centrepiece in the world premiere of Between Two Worlds | Escher X Nendo. Much like the NGV's 2016's Andy Warhol | Ai Weiwei show, the blockbuster exhibition will celebrate two very different creators: Dutch artist M.C. Escher and Japanese design studio Nendo. It will be the first to unite the two, bringing them together in an assembly of immersive art and design. More than 160 different prints and drawings created by Escher during his career that ran from 1916 to 1969 will be shown, the first time the Dutch artist has had a major exhibition in Australia. Optical illusion being what he is known best for, and the images on display will be drawn from the world's largest collection of his work at the Gemeentemuseum in The Hague. In tandem, Nendo will create an environment to house the works, taking inspiration from Escher to manipulate geometry and space to warp perception. This'll create a fully immersive experience in which to be boggled by Escher's works. It doesn't stop there for the upcoming season, though — the NGV's spring/summer is bursting with art shaped fruit ready for you to pick.Australian artist Polly Borland will also be celebrated via a display of her works of recent times at the Ian Potter Centre. Borland is a locally born, LA-dwelling photographer notable for her photos of well-known figures like Queen Elizabeth II and Nick Cave. Gravitating lately more towards surrealism in her photography and producing disquieting and abstract images, both recent and new works of Borland's will be shown. This'll run from September 28 until February 3. Also on the lineup is an exclusive showing of British artist Julian Opie's mixed media works. To be set in the NGV's gallery and gardens, the exhibition was created specifically to fill these spaces and will incorporate sculpture, video, and art specifically for the children's gallery. Try Hito Steyeri's landmark video installation Factory of the Sun, about workers in a motion capture studio whose actions are used to create artificial sunshine, becoming a metaphor for the way digital screens use and emit light. Or take a bite out of Willian Wegman's work — a man whose Weimaraner dog became his artistic muse, William Wegman: Being Human highlights the artist's versatility across different artistic methods and mediums. And don't forget Designing Women, a 40 year highlight of the role of female designers in shaping the culture and fabric of the design world. Drawing from the NGV's permanent collection, over 50 significant works will be showcased, icons by name and affect, and united by gender. This summer's Triennial was the most visited exhibition in the NGV's 157 years, and this exhibition is sure to get similar numbers through the St Kilda Road doors. Start planning your art viewing now. Between Two Worlds | Escher X Nendo will run at NGV International, Melbourne from December 2, 2018 until April 7, 2019. For more info, visit ngv.vic.gov.au. Image: 'Day and Night', M.C. Escher, © The M.C. Escher Company, The Netherlands.
