The four exhibitions currently running at Firstdraft each a paint a kind of portrait: most of people, two of places. A main feature of Jacquelene Drinkall's Weather Underwater are its 'balaclava fascinators': stretched wire faces, with conical scalps towering to infinity. On the opposite wall, Seth Birchall's Man Crush is a series of faces. Each pair was painted in parallel — with every stroke of the first panel repeated on the second, making a mark-for-mark set of two. Paired, they look like stereoscopic photos, though minor details sit at odds from one image to the next. Arsenic tint colours offset Birchall's faces, giving them a television glow. Stella Rosa McDonald's Second City is the highlight of the four. In a black room at the back of the gallery, six people are projected life-size on the wall opposite. They meet your eye as they stand and shuffle patiently in place. A pair of earphones dangle from the ceiling. Listening, your hear critical discussion of "What is a bogan?" by some casual voices. Glebe locals, young and old, are featured in the project. The questions that make up the piece's audio features some of their interrogation. Behind Second City is a blue curtain, where a toothed tunnel which leads through to Claire Finneran and Hossein Ghaemi's This Way Up! The exhibition feels like an abandoned sea cave filled with religious ephemera. The little statues and symbols on the wall are evocative of religions and numinous moments, but none of them belong to a religion in particular. These little holy places revere kiwi fruit, pebbles, a spare cigarette or a shiny cereal packet plunked on a golden pillar. More than one devotion is worshipped here, and each tiny altar fights idly for attention, before you push your way back out through the curtain. Image by Seth Birchill.
In 1994, when Daniel Johns was just 15 years old, he became one of the biggest music stars in the country. Silverchair's 'Tomorrow' hasn't just a hit — it was a song that turned a group of Aussie teenagers into instant legends, soundtracked the mid-90s and helped define growing up in Australia at the time. Saying it was huge really isn't quite saying enough. But what if things hadn't turned out that way? That feels almost unthinkable, but Daniel Johns himself has been thinking it. And, he's made it the premise of a new featurette — not a full-length movie, not exactly a short either, and not really a music video — called What If The Future Never Happened?. In the film, it's 1994 again. Daniel isn't a teenage rockstar yet, but that's only months off. Then, on a normal day in regional Australia — whether or not it'll actually be Newcastle, that's what we'll all be thinking — Daniel's future changes while he's trying to escape three local bullies, all thanks to a mysterious figure. You wait till tomorrow indeed. What If The Future Never Happened? has just dropped a trailer, and it looks as moody, as stepped in all things 90s, and as eager to play around with sci-fi and fantasy as as you'd expect — and the casting of surfer, actor and musician Rasmus King (Barons, Bosch & Rockit) as Johns is downright uncanny. He could've stepped right out of the 'Tomorrow' music video and into the featurette. Perhaps that'll be the concept behind a future movie? Hailed as "from the mind of Daniel Johns" — and clearly based on his life — What If The Future Never Happened? is written and directed by James Medlam (who boasts helming Dune Rats' 'No Plans' music video on his resume). It's also co-penned by producer Heath George and based on a story by Heath Johns, aka Daniel's brother. While exactly when and where it'll drop hasn't been revealed, Daniel Johns' latest solo studio album FutureNever released back in April — and yes, he has a theme at the moment. Check out the trailer for What If The Future Never Happened? below: What If The Future Never Happened? doesn't yet have a release date — we'll update you when it does.
A world-first exhibition dedicated to the late Nelson Mandela has opened in Australia, in what would've been the Nobel Peace Prize laureate's 100th year. Travelling exhibition MANDELA My Life runs from September 22, 2018 to March 3, 2019, with Melbourne Museum hosting the most comprehensive collection of the human rights icon's memorabilia ever to be shown outside South Africa. Alongside a huge assortment of artefacts, including the warrants of committal for Mandela's 27-year stint in prison, the exhibition explores his life through a series of film and audio archives. In total, more than 200 pieces from The Nelson Mandela Foundation and Nelson Mandela's private collection are on display, taking up ten galleries. Highlights include an immersive film piece that places attendees in the courtroom as he delivers his 1964 Rivonia Trial speech against apartheid, a seven-metre-long projection wall that charts his journey through childhood, and a gallery filled with small cell-like rooms based on his time in prison. Visitors can also relive the events of Mandela's first day of freedom in 1990, view a selection of the colourful patterned 'Madiba shirts' he was known for wearing, and see the signed boxing glove gifted to Mandela by Muhammad Ali. In addition, MANDELA My Life includes 16 original artworks by South African artist John Meyer, each of which depicts an event from or theme of Mandela's life. An exhibition within the exhibition, it features renderings of Mandela's childhood in Qunu, his years as a dedicated lawyer in 1950s Johannesburg, his time in jail and and his post-release achievements. Victorian Minister for Tourism and Major Events John Eren said that Melbourne's hosting of the centenary exhibition was a huge win for the city. "Nelson Mandela fought every day for freedom, love and human rights — changing the world and making it a better place," Eren said. "We're proud this exhibition is making its world debut in Victoria, continuing Mandela's incredible legacy and reminding us all that it's in our hands to make a difference." MANDELA My Life is supported by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, which is the custodian of most of the revolutionary's personal photographs, documents and memorabilia. After premiering in Melbourne, the exhibition will embark on a world tour of up to 20 cities, expected to be seen by as many as 2.7 million visitors globally. MANDELA My Life is on display from September 22, 2018 to March 3, 2019 at Melbourne Museum, 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton. For tickets and more information, visit the exhibition's website. Images: 'Father of the Innocents' from the series 'Mandela, A Life's Journey' by John Meyer / Keith Bernstein / Jon Augier, Museums Victoria/
Too lazy to walk? Want to get to a faraway part of town? Add a bus tour to your Art Month itinerary. Whether you live in Sydney's north, south, east or west, you can rest assured that artists on the other side of the city have something to show you that you've never seen before. 2016's bus tours will be travelling all over the place. And each will be led by an expert. Heading to Penrith is Gary Carsley, while Consuelo Cavaniglia will be helping you to Go East, with a trip through Paddington and Woollahra. Meanwhile, in Parramatta, Jon Kirkman, director of the International Culture Exchange, will be showing you private collections, studios and favourite eateries, and in Campbelltown, you'll meet with artist Rosie Deacon. Finally, Barry Keldoulis will be bravely taking on the Go North tour, covering exhibitions and ending with a live performance. Image: Rosie Deacon.
We've passed the winter solstice and the temptation to hibernate is growing ever stronger — so, you probably need a little something extra to tempt you off the couch. Handily, online reservation platform The Fork has a winning idea up its sleeve: it's offering a huge six weeks of dining specials nationwide. Kicking off on Monday, July 1, The Fork Festival will see over 250 top restaurants across the country offering sit-down meals for half the usual price. Yep, 50 percent off your total food bill, folks — think of it as the proverbial carrot luring you out of the house. To snag a half-price meal, you just need to make a reservation through The Fork website or app at one of the participating eateries for any service (breakfast, lunch or dinner) during the six weeks. [caption id="attachment_574140" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Comuna Cantina[/caption] There are some great venues coming to the party, too. In Sydney, you'll find discounted eats at the likes of Pilu at Freshwater, Queen Chow Manly, Potts Point wine bar Monopole, Din Tai Fung (Chatswood, Central Park, Miranda), waterside spot Berowra Waters Inn, Fratelli Fresh (Alexandria and Crows Nest) and Surry Hills' Caffe Bartolo. Melbourne spots include Prahran's Casa NOM, Burma Lane in the CBD, South Yarra's Abacus and Pretty Boy Italian Steakhouse. Brisbane folk can score discounts at the likes of Comuna Cantina, River Quay Fish and The French Bistrot, and Perth diners should put Angove Kitchen & Espresso Bar, Prince Lane and Street Eats Eatery on their radar. You might want to revisit an old favourite or you could get a little adventurous and road-test somewhere new. Either way, there's ample time to squeeze in a fair few discount feasts before the festival wraps up on August 11. The Fork Festival runs from July 1–August 11. The full list of participating restaurants will be released on the website on June 30. Top image: Caffe Bartolo by Kitti Gould; Casa Nom by Griffin Simm.
Encouraging humanity to live reduce our impact on the planet, stylish and inventive architectural designs, the ability to make almost any place your backyard: yes, the tiny house movement has it all. And if you've been dreaming about leaving regular old bricks-and-mortar living behind for the freedom of a small, cute, mobile cottage, the latest model to hit the market isn't going to change that. Meet the Escape One and its upsized version, the Escape One XL — aka a two-storey wood cabin on wheels. You'll forget any caravan comparisons when you're walking through timber-clad interiors, gazing out multiple levels of large windows, making between 25 and 36 square metres of space your own. Throw in a multi-purpose first floor that can be used as a dining area, office, bedroom and living room, plus a second floor that's similarly flexible in function, and you'll be in pint-sized abode heaven. Like all the best miniature houses, living a compact life doesn't mean skimping on the essentials. Both models boast a tub and shower, designer sink and bathroom storage, plus optional flatscreen TVs and blu-ray players, while the XL comes with a maple cabinet-filled kitchen with appliances and an under-counter fridge/freezer. Alas, for those culling their belongings and packing their bags, these currently these tiny mobile homes are only available in the US, and they don't come cheap — starting at US$49,800. Via Dezeen. Image: Escape.
The twin film phenomenon means that movies often come in pairs, with two flicks with the same premise arriving at the same time. Now, meet Australia's two current twin flight sales. After Virgin launched a Valentine's Day sale for flights to and from Queensland, Qantas has unveiled a 72-hour sale on fares across the country. Whether you're a Sydneysider thinking about a Byron Bay getaway, a Melburnian keen on jaunt to Tasmania or a Brisbanite eager to hit The Whitsundays, you have options. There's more than 500,000 fares covered, featuring everywhere from Queensland's tropics to the Apple Isle's cities, and from Perth to Sydney, too, as well as all the other state capitals, the Gold Coast, Coffs Harbour, Broken Hill and more. And, on 25-plus routes, flights will cost you under $150. The cheapest, as tends to be the case on all flight sales, is the Sydney–Ballina route, which'll get you from the Harbour City to Byron Bay from $109. Then, the Melbourne–Launceston fare comes in at $119, Gold Coast–Sydney at $125, Gold Coast–Melbourne at $129 and Brisbane–Hervey Bay at $139. The sale runs until 11.59pm on Saturday, February 17, so you'll want to get in quickly to get a bargain. And, as always, if fares sell out earlier, you'll miss out. Inclusions-wise, the sale covers fares with checked baggage, complimentary food and beverages, wifi and seat selection. If you're keen on heading further afield, but just across the ditch, Qantas also has a sale on flights to New Zealand on right now. This one runs until 11.59pm AEDT on Monday, February 19, or until sold out again. The sale covers Auckland, Christchurch, Queenstown and Wellington, for dates between March–December 2024, with starting prices from $499 return. Go on, pack your bags. Qantas' 72-hour surprise sale runs for 72 hours until 11.59pm on Saturday, February 17, or until sold out. It's also doing a New Zealand sale until 11.59pm AEDT on Monday, February 19, or until sold out again. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
Life drawing and classes all typically unfold in the same manner: a model disrobes, budding artists commit their likeness to paper, and a wealth of potential masterpieces all focus on the naked human form. But at Magnolia's Art Class, that's just part of the equation. The other part? The folks behind the easel are also encouraged to drop their clothes. Open to women and female-identifying participants, next taking place on Wednesday, January 22 at Dulcie's Kings Cross, this art session is also a bonding session. It asks artists to embrace their own bodies while they're sketching someone else's, and celebrates confidence, diversity and empowerment in the process. And, it also lets attendees strike a pose as well — while there'll be an art model leading the charge, everyone can trying their hand at standing in their place. This time around, tickets cost $27 and, given that Australia is still burning, proceeds will go towards helping communities and animals affected by the current bushfire crisis. All 100 percent of the ticket price will be split and donated to the NSW Rural Fire Service, the RSPCA and WIRES's Emergency Wildlife Fund. You can also tack on an extra donation when buying a ticket through the Eventbrite page. Given the venue, there'll also be wine, cocktails and cheese available to purchase. How naked you get is up to you, based your own comfort levels — and the section of the bar where the class takes place will be closed off, and solely served by female staff. All drawing skill levels are welcome, too, with the teacher Kate taking you through the basics. Just BYO dressing gown, sketch book, and drawing or painting tools.
Since True Blood came to an end, Anna Paquin has kept busy; however, if you're only going to watch one of her recent projects, make it the acerbically amusing Flack. She plays Robyn, an American publicist now living and working in London. There's much to laugh about in the field of public relations, and ample drama, too — so Flack mines the industry for both as Robyn tries to navigate a seemingly never-ending array of professional chaos, and makes the most of her ever-hectic personal life as well. A couple of episodes from the show's second season are directed by her True Blood co-star Stephen Moyer, and the series' big names don't end there. Oscar nominee Sophie Okonedo pops up as Robyn's boss and the always-beloved Sam Neill features, with the latter reuniting with fellow New Zealander Paquin after they both starred in The Piano back in 1993.
Brisbane's Damian Griffiths is doubling down on his mission to put the entire population of Sydney — and indeed, Australia — into a diabetic coma. After giving us our first taste of his insanely popular Doughnut Time creations, the sugar-mad restaurateur is bringing his retro ice cream parlour, Mister Fitz, across the border. The first Mister Fitz opened in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane last December, followed quickly by a second location in South Bank. The Sydney move was first announced in April 2016, and while we're still waiting for a concrete opening date for the permanent store, Griffiths is kicking things off with a pop-up in Sydney's CBD, opening Friday, May 26. You will have to head into a shopping mall to find it though, as one half of Myer's winter Alpine Village activation beside a sibling Doughnut Time pop-up. Mister Fitz's pop-up menu is just four ice-cream sandwiches strong including the Gimme Macklemore (chocolate cookie sandwich, s'mores ice-cream and hot chocolate sauce), and the 24 Carat Magic with a slim shady doughnut sandwich, milk and cookies ice-cream and unicorn crumb), and warm offerings like the Sticky AF (sticky date pudding with vanilla ice cream topped with hot caramel sauce and unicorn crumb). The Mister Fitz and Doughnut Time Alpine Village is located on Level 6, Myer Sydney, 436 George Street, Sydney and will be open during Myer trading hours from May 26 to July 16. To celebrate the opening, both brands will be giving away free ice-cream sandwiches and doughnuts from 12-1pm on Friday, May 26.
When Sydney Chamber Opera first performed Notes from Underground back in 2011 at the National Art School's Cell Block Theatre, they were, at just one year old, fresh and yet unestablished. But the production — which saw composer Jack Symonds and librettist Pierce Wilcox work together for the first time — was defining for the SCO, and cemented their position as a powerful voice in Sydney's arts scene. Five years on, they're revisiting the opera in a brand new production which will premiere at Carriageworks over five nights from August 13-20. Symonds, once again alongside Wilcox, has composed an epic soundtrack especially for the 2016 production and his troupe of performers. Directed by Patrick Nolan and designed by Genevieve Blanchett, the stage becomes a map of the central character's mind, and explores ideas of his memory, obsession, desire and belonging. As you may have guessed, Notes from Underground is loosely based around Dostoevsky's 1864 novella of the same name. But there's been some changes. While the production stays true to the two-part structure of the fictional memoir of an isolated 'Underground Man', it takes the narrative from 19th century Russia and pulls it into present day. Add in some influences from David Lynch and Spike Jonze and you've got yourself a modern day opera epic. Book into the final performance on Saturday, August 20 and catch a free pre-show talk with journalist Caroline Baum in conversation with both Symonds and Wilcox at 6pm.
Good news, chicken lovers. El Jannah is spreading its wings east with the launch of a brand-new location in Randwick. To celebrate, the charcoal chicken fanatics have put together a grand opening celebration, with anyone named Charlie (or close enough) earning a special treat. Happening on Saturday, July 26, a charcoal chicken meal is on the house for the Charlottes, Charlenes and Charles of the world — you get the idea. But don't think the rest of us have been forgotten. El Jannah Randwick will serve quarter charcoal chicken meals to all-comers for $5. "Opening in Randwick is a milestone moment for us and a reflection of Sydney's ever-growing love for charcoal chicken," says Adam Issa, Head of Marketing at El Jannah. "What began as a single family-run store in Granville has grown by keeping true to our founding principles; serving honest food, made with care, and shared with community." The arrival of El Jannah Randwick has also thrown a wrench in the 'Red Rooster Line.' Emerging from the western suburbs, the cult-favourite chicken joint has ignored the buffer, finding a new home among Chargrill Charlie's territory. It only makes sense — juicy chicken and legendary garlic sauce know no boundaries.
The back-to-work blues have hit us all pretty hard this year — especially as summer took its time to shine. If you're like us, you're already yearning to escape the office or your current work-from-home situation. And this loved-up time of year (yup, Valentine's Day is coming) offers up a great excuse to book a trip away with your partner. With this in mind, Virgin Australia has launched the Bring on More in Adelaide sale, offering up to 30% off flights to the City of Churches — with prices as low as $89 one way from Melbourne. You may not know it, but Adelaide is a mighty romantic city. It's home to spectacular wine, chocolate and fresh oysters — all aphrodisiacs — alongside a huge variety of activities made for loved-up couples. So, this year, swap the usual Valentine's Day staycation for an unforgettably romantic (and discounted) trip to Adelaide. Here's some inspiration to get you love birds started. [caption id="attachment_886121" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tommaso Cantelli[/caption] JOIN AN OYSTER TOUR There are stacks of reason why oyster tours are great for dates. First off, there is the aphrodisiac element (if you believe all that), but it's also a unique way to feel swanky while enjoying the outdoors. Few places compare to the famed Coffin Bay, located on South Australia's picturesque Eyre Peninsula. Here, you and your partner can don some arguably unsexy waterproof waders to frolic in the clear blue waters and learn a little about oyster farming. You'll then head back to the beachside Salt Water Pavilion where you can dine on freshly caught oysters while sipping on local wines. EXPLORE VAST WINE REGIONS Speaking of wine, Adelaide is surrounded by several world-famous wine regions. And you really don't have to go far to visit them. You've got the Adelaide Hills located just a 30-minute drive from the CBD, McLaren Vale at 45 minutes, and the Barossa (where Two Hands Wines, pictured above, is located) and Clare valleys around 1.5 and two hours away, respectively. Pick one, book a driver (so one of you doesn't have to miss out) and explore as many cellar doors as you can — possibly opting for private tours and tastings to make it all the more romantic. STAY IN A LUSH HOTEL A romantic getaway is incomplete without a luxurious place to rest your heads — or get Ade(laid)e. One of our favourite CBD stays is the undeniably cool Hotel Indigo (pictured above), which boasts large luxurious rooms and an outdoor pool overlooking the city. If you can't make it to Paris but you're looking for a chic French-style getaway, book a stay at Sofitel Adelaide. This glamorous five-star hotel has a huge array of rooms and suites as well as its own wine bar and French fine dining restaurant. It's also hard to overlook the old-school glamour of The Playford. Unwind in the spa and sauna after a long day of exploring Adelaide before returning to your opulent art nouveau suite to order room service to your bed. [caption id="attachment_777850" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sia Duff[/caption] PARTAKE IN EXCEPTIONAL DINING Heading to Adelaide means heading to a deliciously diverse range of restaurants and bars — most championing local produce with incredibly tasty and creative dishes. As a strong start, there's the much-adored Africola (pictured above), where North African dishes are backdropped by art-covered walls and an energetic buzz. Over on Peel Street, Southeast Asian street food meets natural wine at Gondola Gondola, the upstairs Bread and Bone plates up woodfired burgers, steaks and ribs, and the appropriately named Peel St features a menu of refined yet simple fare made from quality local ingredients. Alternatively, you can amp up the romance with one of the best meals you'll likely ever have — book a table at Restaurant Botanic, the winner of Australia's Restaurant of the Year award for 2023, to experience modern Australian dining at its absolute finest. [caption id="attachment_785247" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Adam Bruzzone via South Australian Tourism Commission[/caption] DISCOVER UNIQUE DATE DESTINATIONS The City of Churches is far more than its places of worship — there are countless things for loved-up couples to do here. First off, as we are talking romance, we highly recommend a trip to the Haigh's Chocolate factory — for Adelaide is the birthplace of this beloved chocolate maker. Here, you can taste all its best creations and go on a special behind-the-scenes tour to see how this all-too romantic treat is created. But if you want to get out in nature, you can try a dolphin sanctuary kayak tour, paddling about with your partner in tow. Moreover, a day spent wandering around the Art Gallery of South Australia is aways a win, while a sunset cruise along the coast is what Valentine's Day is made for. You're clearly spoilt for choice. Take advantage of Virgin Australia's latest travel deal, booking discounted flights to Adelaide here. But hurry, the sale ends on Monday, February 6. Top image: Skillogalee courtesy of South Australia Tourism.
One of modern art's most argued-about works has been sold. Tracey Emin's famously debated 1999 work My Bed went under the hammer for the very first time, complete with dirty sheets, cigarette butts and condoms — and taking away a cheeky £2.2 million. Emin, who showed up to the auction yesterday, gained notoriety when her work Everyone I Have Ever Slept With 1963–1995 debuted at a 1997 Charles Saatchi's Sensation exhibition at London's Royal Academy. After getting drunk, going on national TV and getting all sweary, she'd release My Bed two years later to colossal debate. One of modern art's classic "Is this art? What is art? Is this bag of wrenches art?" generators, My Bed was expected to sell between £800,000 and £1.2 million (roughly $1.4 million to $2.2 million) at auction — instead raising the bar to £2.2 million. With the buyer's premium, My Bed really went for £2,546,500; a world record for Emin at auction. Francis Bacon's Study For Head Of Lucian Freud was also put under the hammer, fetching a quiet little price of £10.2 million. The highly-scrutinised installation is a recreation of Emin's actual bed during a rough time — the artist spent days in the bed during relationship difficulties and dealt with suicidal thoughts. Scattered with paraphenalia from the artist's own bedroom (condoms, menstrual-stained underwear, slippers), My Bed caused controversy not for the collective sum of confrontingly personal items but for the stains on the sheets. Gallery-goers saw the traces of bodily secretion as a little too human. "It's a self-portrait, but not one that people would like to see," Emin said. "I took everything out of my bedroom and made it into an installation," Emin said. "And when I put it into a white space, for some people it became quite shocking. But I just thought it looked like a damsel in distress, like a woman fainting or something, needing to be helped." The new owners (who haven't been revealed yet) might be able to recreate the work of two performance artists, Yuan Chai and Jian Jun Xi, who jumped on Emin's bed in a performance creatively titled Two Naked Men Jump into Tracey's Bed. Most interestingly will be the conditions under which the new owner must actually display My Bed. Previously (when not displayed in a gallery setting) the work has been on display at the home of its owner Charles Saatchi. As The Guardian reports, the work — a flurry of seemingly random miscellany — has very meticulous installation instructions. "It's a very complicated piece to put together," Director of Cadogan Tate Fine Art Stephen Glynn says. "It comes with a dossier of photographs of every object, and a list of where exactly everything needs to go." A bit like an Ikea instruction manual, then? "A bit. You're certainly trying to make sure that everything goes in the right place." Displayed at the Tate Modern in 1999, My Bed was shortlisted for the Turner Prize that year. Saatchi can now count its sweet, sweet Emin pennies, with proceeds going straight back to the Saatchi Gallery — the team are moving to make the gallery have free admission. Via BBC, Reuters and The Guardian.
If you've been dying to put that part of your mind which is great at cryptic crosswords and problem-solving games to work, then we've got some good news. Australia's largest escape room complex has just launched its twisty self into Sydney. Rediscover the highs and lows of teamwork (remember group assignments?) by picking a group of clever mates — you can be brutal — and rolling down to Glebe's MYST to give one of its challenges a go. You'll have your pick of three themed rooms — an ancient tomb, pirates or vampires — all with multiple rooms within them. You and your mates will be immersed in a world that isn't your own and will be quickly reminded of the beauty of teamwork — either you all escape or none of you will. MYST also features a fully immersive three-hour theatre experience, set in an ancient palace during the Qiang Dynasty. MYST is already open if you're ready to start cracking some codes, but it's also hosting a launch party on Friday, May 31. Tickets cost $15 per person and include beer, wine and canapés. There'll also be a DJ, plus a tour and souvenir key chain thrown in, too. You certainly won't be wanting to escape that quite yet — brainwork is for later. The MYST Launch Night Party kicks off at 5pm on Friday, May 31. To purchase tickets, head this way.
Lately, the works of the Dutch masters are receiving some fabulously intense, borderline-OCD flattery from a man who takes the art of imitation to the next level. Creative genius and 17th-century portrait subject stalker Michael Mapes gathers very specific objects and uses them to form intriguing, almost sculptural 21st-century replicas of famous portraits. Look closely at one of Mapes' pixelated images of a face originally painted by Rembrandt or Nicolaes Eliasz Pickenoy, and you'll be rewarded with unexpected findings. The larger picture is composed of all manner of objects, from fragments of human hair to makeup samples, glass vials, gelatin capsules, costume jewellery, contemporary photographs and more. The variety of materials and attention to detail is quite astounding. But this is no random assemblage. Building on a 'pseudo-scientific method' developed for earlier works, after choosing a high-resolution scan of a painting from the archives of Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum, Mapes researches the life of his subject to get a sense of their character. This will inform the eclectica that will make up the physical recreation, and the end result is akin to an entomological display of insect specimens, with many tiny items pinned to a plain backdrop for inspection. It's much like viewing a collection of preserved butterflies, raising an implicit question about how we scrutinise historical artwork, people and visual culture in general. Broader meanings are also embedded in the compositional material of the image — for example, we might ask, how is a gelatin capsule relevant to this character? — making these portraits into extreme meta-portraits. Three artworks from the series will be shown in Montana at Yellowstone Art Museum starting this March, in an exhibition of innovative forms of portraiture entitled Face to Face. See more of the artist's works at
In a year like 2020, it can feel like we've reached the end of humanity. Maybe the end of everything? Now, take that morbid vision of the future and sprinkle a bit of cannibalism into the picture. That's what physical theatre maestro Mitch Jones has done with his darkly comic Autocannibal. With Earth's resources completely decimated, the sole-surviving human must consider making a meal of himself in order to live another day. It's the dystopian, visceral clowning around we deserve to start the new year. Images: Jacinta Oaten
Given the globe's current state of affairs, there's no wonder we're all seeking a little escapism. For some, that's scrolling through luxurious (and exorbitantly priced) Airbnbs around the globe. For others, it's getting out of the house and seeing a spellbinding show. If you're after the latter, you can head straight to Sydney Opera House to see a seductive new production by dazzling circus group Circa, titled Peepshow. Running for less than two weeks, from Tuesday, February 2 till Sunday, February 14, Peepshow is part fantastical circus and part alluring cabaret — and is sure to titillate your wildest imagination. Directed by circus extraordinaire Yaron Lifschitz, it'll have you on the edge of your seat with some thrilling acrobatic stunts, as well as playful cabaret. And, with Valentine's Day just around the corner, why not treat your partner in crime to a night of live, racy theatre? And, to sweeten the deal, the Opera House is offering free flutes of champagne for performances between February 2–4. [caption id="attachment_799039" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Prudence Upton[/caption] For more information — and to buy tickets — head to the Sydney Opera House website. Top images: Prudence Upton
For most of us, bringing the outdoors inside is interior decorating speak for putting a few plants around your apartment. For artist Doug Wheeler, it has been a life-long ambition. Growing up in Arizona and spending time standing in the US state's vast desert landscape, he conceived of an idea for a group of installations that would mimic that experience — and, almost five decades after he put his plans down on paper, one has finally become a reality. Inside New York's Guggenheim Museum, Wheeler has transformed the gallery into an abstract synthetic dessert. Don't just take our word for it — PSAD Synthetic Desert III is the name of the piece. After moving through a number of chambers that can only be unlocked by staff, visitors walk into a room filled with sound-absorbing foam pyramids as far as the eye can see. A platform sits in the middle, ensuring everyone who enters is surrounded by the eye-catching structure, with lighting and sound design also crafted to make the space as immersive as possible. Indeed, because Synthetic Desert "is best experienced with as few extraneous sounds and distractions as possible," according to the Guggenheim website, only five people can enter the free exhibition at any one time. Visits are limited to either ten or twenty minutes of gazing into the sea of white shapes and ponder space, landscape and whatever else pops into your mind when you're sitting in silence in a room filled with foam spikes. After first turning his vision into sketches back in 1968, and spending much of his career contemplating light and space, Wheeler piece aims to "produce a hermetic environment based on a radical reduction of optical and acoustical sensation" in order to "heighten our understanding of perceptual experience." Anyone that happens to be in New York between now and August 2 is advised to book in advance, with entry free with museum admission, because this unique and beautiful installation is certain to be popular. Via Artnet. Image: David Heald
Sydney's winter nights just got a whole lot brighter — and more heartfelt — with the arrival of Hope, a luminous, large-scale artwork that's lighting up Hyde Park Barracks right now. It's been brought to life by Japanese-Australian artist Hiromi Tango, and is part of the wider program of satellite events that's popped up around Vivid Sydney. Hope is an audiovisual projection piece that has transformed the façade of the UNESCO World Heritage site into a glowing beacon of sound and colour, exploring the themes of community and connection. The artwork appears nightly – and it's free to visit, too. [caption id="attachment_1006234" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Joshua Morris for Museums of History NSW[/caption] Each night until Saturday, June 21, the Macquarie Street building comes alive with a dynamic projection of digital blooms and swirling light. The projections are accompanied by a rich soundscape of recorded voices — people sharing personal stories of hope, as well as stories about the layered histories embedded in the site itself. These reflections, which echo across the courtyard, are interwoven with audio and visual fragments that honour the Barracks' past. The digital work is accompanied by five large-scale 'hope flowers', as well as a growing garden of hand-crafted blooms. Created through a series of collaborative workshops led by Tango, Hope Garden is a textile-based installation that welcomes visitors at the Barracks gates with flowers made from upcycled materials, each crafted by participants from all walks of life who have depicted their own interpretations of hope. The result is a community-built, constantly evolving landscape that celebrates overlooked voices and shared humanity, and will continue to grow throughout the installation's display time. [caption id="attachment_1006235" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jimmy Murray, Museums of History NSW[/caption] Tango has long worked at the intersection of creativity and care, and has become known for her artwork that draw from the worlds of science and mental health. Drawing from her own experiences with neurodivergence and anxiety, Tango's installations and performance pieces often focus on the therapeutic power of art and the art-making process through her collaborations with scientists, health professionals and research institutions. [caption id="attachment_1006230" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mason Dean, Museums of History NSW[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1006231" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jimmy Murray, Museums of History NSW[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1006232" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Joshua Morris, Museums of History NSW[/caption] 'Hope' by Hiromi Tango is now showing at Hyde Park Barracks, Macquarie Street, Sydney CBD. You can see it every night until Saturday, June 21. For more information, head to the Museums of History NSW website. Top image: Joshua Morris for Museums of History NSW.
Twenty-four year-old interaction designer Joanna Montgomery, from the UK, has come up with a futuristic invention that is getting long-distance lovers very excited. 'Pillow Talk', which is being launched by Montgomery's company Little Riot, is an invention that lets you hear the real time heartbeat of your lover when you’re apart. Taken from Montgomery’s blog, the promotion video shows how each partner can wear a ring which transmits the soothing sounds of your lover’s heartbeat to your pillow, all through the wonders of wireless technology. The pillow lights up to show that your loved one is also lying down in bed. From the company’s Facebook page, it’s certainly piqued the interest of those in military jobs, and couples who regularly work overseas. For the skeptics out there, yes, we did say real time - so we assume time zones may be a problem, as well as (dare we say it) any unexpected raised pulses.
Airlines set you a challenge every time you fly: see how much of your life you can fit into a single suitcase. One flat-packed or rucksacked case to take you round the world, interstate, or just for you to stuff full of travel goodies when taking yourself back to where you came from. Chippendale venue Serial Space has put together a similar challenge for its upcoming Suitcase Market, where vendors are can sell whatever they want, as long as it's legal and fits in a suitcase. Drawing inspiration from Brisbane's Suitcase Rummage, it brings a version of the "no hassle, no fuss" market down here to our local stashes of rare finds and weird tchotchkes. The market is old school: you don't have to buy and sell. Swapping things from one case to another is looked on favourably as well. Buyers can just turn up on the day, sellers should have registered by August 15. So if you've got a cupboard full of old dresses, new toys, strange art, stranger knick-knacks, or just an empty suitcase waiting to be filled, take your luggage down and put your cash on the nail. Image by David Jackmanson.
It's that time of year when your phone buzzes incessantly with calls from your parents asking when you'll be back for the holidays. If you're anything like everyone, you've put off booking these flights because, while you theoretically like the idea of seeing your family, the thought of sleeping on the floor, drunk and full to bursting with Christmas ham, sandwiched between two distant cousins is enough to put you off dropping money on Christmas-time flights just yet. Google know this and they sympathise…sort of. Along with a whole swag of products (including their new Google Pixel phone and their own VR headset, the Daydream) and the recently launched Google Trips, they've also announced that their flight search engine is getting a cool new feature. Google Flights is the tech company's online airfare search tool (not unlike Skyscanner et al.). Up until now it's been effective at finding the most convenient and cheapest flights for the dates you want to travel, but its latest update will also tell you when the price of said flights is predicted to go up or down. Using their magical algorithm, Google will be able to predict when flight prices will increase — so they'll let you know if you need to book that baby before it doubles in price, or if you can afford to sit on it for a few days. It'll also make recommendations on the cheapest dates and times to book and even give you tips on which airports and routes will be cheaper for you. And if you're still not ready to fully commit to the idea of heading home, you can track flights and the progression of prices and get email updates when prices fluctuate or expire. They're also integrating a decent hotel search feature into the whole shebang if you're going somewhere more exciting than your family home for Christmas. The new Google Flights feature will roll out over the next few weeks. You can use the tool at google.com/flights. Image: Ross Parmly.
If there's a surefire way to brighten any average day, it's this: looking at YouTube videos of charming animals. We were all doing it before the pandemic. Thanks to plenty of live feeds, we kept doing it when we were all staying home, too. And now Guide Dogs Australia wants you to keep watching — and to start going "awwwwwwwwwwww" while checking out its new eight-episode behind-the-scenes series. Born to Lead is the insider look at adorable guide dogs you did actually always know that you needed. Dropping new ten-minute instalments weekly, it follows super-cute guide dogs from birth through to retirement. In the process, it also tells the tales of the people who help the pups' development, plus those who benefit afterwards — spanning volunteers and trainers, as well as Australians with low vision or who are blind who welcome a guide dog into their homes. Launching at 4pm AEST today, Monday, June 27 via the Bondi Vet YouTube channel, and filmed this year at Guide Dogs campuses and cities in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia, Born to Lead also aims to give an insight into what it takes to raise a guide dog — from being a tiny little newborn pooch through to making an enormous difference in someone's life. "It takes up to two years and $50,000 to breed, raise and train just one guide dog, so we are beyond excited to have this incredible journey and many amazing stories from within the Guide Dogs community captured on film," said Charlie Spendlove, Head of Marketing and Communications at Guide Dogs Australia. If you're the kind of person who considers looking after a pup every time that Guide Dogs Australia puts out a callout, this is obviously the show for you. If you'll watch anything about humanity's barking besties — Tony Armstrong's ABC series from earlier this year, Netflix's two seasons of the docuseries Dogs and big-screen release Stray all included — then this is clearly as exciting as throwing a ball or heading to a dog park is to a pooch. Born to Lead hits screens courtesy of producers WTFN, who are also behind Bondi Vet and Mega Zoo. And, although it's only airing online for now, that might just be the beginning. "While Born to Lead will get a run on our Bondi Vet digital channels, which have over 2.5 million subscribers itself, we envisage it becoming a broadcast project in the future," said Daryl Talbot, WTFN's CEO. Check out the first episode of Born to Lead below from 4pm AEST Monday, June 27: Born to Lead will start streaming via the Bondi Vet YouTube channel from 4pm AEST on Monday, June 27, with new episodes dropping weekly.
Thanks to the trans-Tasman travel bubble, Australians can finally visit New Zealand for a holiday again. The Federal Government has also floated the possibility of opening a similar arrangement with Singapore, perhaps by July, although nothing has been announced as yet. But if you were hoping to fly out of the country whenever you like and travel to wherever you like, Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan have bad news for you — because Australia's international border isn't likely to open this year, or until well into next year. The Trade Minister discussed international borders on Friday, May 7, and noted that, regarding opening back up, "the best guess would be in the middle to the second half of next year." He continued: "but as we've seen throughout this pandemic, things can change. So, the hope would be that we might be able to see a few more bubbles set up and would be able to see more travel being undertaken. But we're in a pandemic so, this is a best guess at this stage." Then, on Sunday, May 9, the Prime Minister also offered his thoughts on the subject — first in an interview with News Corp, and then in a follow-up post on his Facebook page. "I don't see an appetite for that at the moment," he said in the interview, also noting that "we have to be careful not to exchange that way of life for what everyone else has." On his social media post, he advised that "international borders will only open when it is safe to do so." The Prime Minister continued: "We still have a long way to go, and there are still many uncertainties ahead. Australians are living like in few countries around the world today. We will continue to do everything we can to work together prevent a third wave and roll out our vaccination programme. And, as always, we will continue to listen to the medical advice and make decisions in the best health and economic interests of all Australians." Also on Sunday, the Treasurer spoke with the ABC in the lead up to the budget, and echoed the sentiments of his colleagues. He said that the budget, which will be announced on Tuesday, May 11, has been crafted with a 2022 date for opening international borders in mind. "This is showing you how fluid the economic situation is with respect to the virus. But we have an assumption based on the borders opening. It's in 2022." Statements like these have been common over the past 14 months since the Australian Government implemented an indefinite ban on international travel, only allowing Aussies to leave the country in very limited circumstances. Last year's prediction that opening up to the rest of the world wouldn't happen in 2020 proved accurate — and, earlier this year, Australia's ex-Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy (now the Secretary of the Department of Health) said that we might not be going anywhere until 2022. Back in March, the Federal Government also extended the human biosecurity emergency period under the Biosecurity Act 2015, so that it now spans until June 17, 2021 — which'll mark 15 months since it was first put in place. It's the piece of legislation that keeps the international borders closed, and it has been extended several times. Based on the recent statements made by the Prime Minster, Trade Minister and Treasurer, it's likely to be extended again as well. With Australia's vaccination campaign underway, Qantas and Jetstar have begun selling tickets for overseas flights for trips scheduled from October, demonstrating hope that the country's international travel rules could ease by then. Of course, the fact that you can book a trip doesn't mean that you'll actually be able to take it — and, again, it's looking highly probably that anyone with tickets for an overseas trip before mid-2022 will be doing a bit of rebooking and rescheduling. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.
For 14 hours in October, Sydney became home to a very nice and very large statue of Borat. This month, the city has welcomed another supersized and temporary piece of pop culture-themed art — this time celebrating a local star. Until Tuesday, November 17, an 18-storey-high portrait of Nicole Kidman is soaring above Darlinghurst. And yes, like the sculpture of a certain fictional Kazakh journalist, it's designed to promote a new addition to your streaming queue. For the past three weeks, Binge has been dropping new episodes of HBO's twisty new six-part thriller mini-series The Undoing, with three more episodes left to air across the rest of November. In the whodunnit drama, Kidman stars as successful therapist, Grace Fraser, who lives a life of considerable luxury in New York. But when someone linked to her son's ultra-wealthy private school turns up dead, Grace's seemingly perfect existence starts to collapse — as does her marriage to charming paediatric oncologist Jonathan (Hugh Grant). Clearly, the new sky-high artwork is simply a very large advertisement for The Undoing. And we do mean large, given that it measures 18.4 metres wide and 36.8 metres high — covering nearly 680 square metres in total. That said, it's all hand-painted, with artists Hamish McBride, Laura Paige, Kailin Hegel, Jacqui Butterworth, Aly Barnard, Matt Mcenally, Meg Hardie, Meg Hales, Michael Iglesias, Nancy Ji and Tia Madden working on the portrait across 400 hours over 15 days (and using around 200 litres of paint in the process). The aforementioned creatives all hail from Apparition Media, which is also responsible for the huge mural of AFL star Adam Goodes in Surry Hills. Apparition Media's giant likeness of Kidman is just one half of an overall project, as another painting will replace it from Wednesday, November 18. Yes, you could say that the initial portrait will come undone — but just what the second picture will depict is yet to be revealed. After Monday, November 23, the wall will be painted for a third time, reverting it back to its original state. If you're wondering whether that's a sign of what's to come in The Undoing — which also features Donald Sutherland, A Quiet Place's Noah Jupe and Edgar Ramirez; is based on Jean Hanff Korelitz's novel You Should Have Known and directed by The Night Manager's Susanne Bier; and was adapted by well-known TV writer David E Kelley (Big Little Lies, LA Law, Ally McBeal, The Practice) — you'll obviously need to watch the series to find out. Check out the trailer for The Undoing below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wdlvSoWR6w The 18-storey-high portrait of Nicole Kidman will adorn the side of 227 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, until Tuesday, November 17. It'll then be replaced by a second yet-to-be-revealed painting from Wednesday, November 18–Monday, November 23. The first three episodes of The Undoing are available to stream via Binge, with new episodes added weekly on Mondays. Images: Chris Pavlich
Netflix might've stopped adding new Mindhunter episodes to our streaming queues, sadly, but the platform isn't done exploring true crimes or serial killers yet — not by far. From The Serpent to the Conversations with a Killer series, and including everything from The Ripper to The Raincoat Killer: Chasing a Predator in Korea as well, there's no shortage of options if you type 'serial killer' into the service's search function, including whether you're looking for dramas or documentaries. Soon, DAHMER — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story will join that hefty and growing list. Very soon, in fact: from Wednesday, September 21, with the ten-part miniseries featuring WandaVision, Mare of Easttown and American Horror Story actor Evan Peters as the titular IRL murderer. In doing so, the inherently unsettling show sees its star reunite with the latter's creator and prolific TV producer Ryan Murphy, this time getting creepy in a different way. When the Monster drops its full run in one go, ready for nightmarish midweek binging, expect to be perturbed. Unsurprisingly, the just-dropped first trailer is chilling. It's meant to be, both given the tale it's telling and the tone. In a sneak peek heavy on mood, evoking that reaction and giving viewers a look at Peters in the part are the clear aim — consider both well and truly achieved. Dahmer's story is particularly gruesome; between 1978–1991, he murdered and dismembered 17 boys and men. There's more to his crimes, including cannibalism — and accepting a meal from Dahmer isn't something that anyone takes lightly, or willingly, in Monster's trailer. Alongside Peters, Netflix's dramatised step back into Dahmer's murders features Richard Jenkins (Nightmare Alley) as the serial killer's father Lionel and Penelope Ann Miller as his mother Joyce — and the full cast includes Niecy Nash (Never Have I Ever) and Molly Ringwald (Riverdale) as well. And yes, getting well-known faces to play horrific killers is also part of Netflix's true-crime trend — which, if you watched Zac Efron play Ted Bundy in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile a few years back, you'll already know. Check out the trailer for DAHMER — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story below: DAHMER — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story will be available to stream via Netflix on Wednesday, September 21.
If there are seven basic plots in literature, one of them must be, 'woman has sex, everyone dies'. At least, it seems to be so among the English Renaissance dramatists. Recently in Sydney, we've seen Christopher Marlowe's Doctor Faustus and John Ford's 'Tis Pity She's a Whore, great tragedies where incest seems to be its own genre, punishing women for their sexuality is the norm, and grotesquery reigns. Shakespeare may even be the cheeriest of his contemporaries. For theatre-makers putting on these plays today, it's imperative that they do something with the contained misogyny (Benedict Andrews dealt with Shakespeare's 'problem play' Measure for Measure, the plot of which turns on a woman's virginity, by making it madly implode — that was something) and find a relatable note for modern audiences. Bell Shakespeare's The Duchess of Malfi, adapted by Hugh Colman and Ailsa Piper from the original tragedy by John Webster, gets much closer than most, mainly because the Duchess gets to be a full character. Though she may be admired for her "noble virtue", Lucy Bell (daughter of John Bell, who directs) plays her as a self-assured woman with a humanistic moral code, a sense of humour that spans the wry and the silly, and, yes, sexuality she owns. When her brothers, the manipulative Cardinal (David Whitney) and creepily in-love-with-her Judge (Sean O'Shea), forbid the young widow to remarry, she secretly weds Antonio (Matthew Moore), steward of her household and a man widely regarded as being "too honest". Unfortunately, word is destined to get back to the brothers eventually, because they've stationed spy and assassin Daniel de Bosola (Ben Wood) at her door. Wood puts in a great performance as the hulking, ocker-toned Bosola, who gets all the best lines. The way he can pick up all the other cast members on stage is a sheer joy. Still, as much as he's an engaging character and in many ways our guide through this version of the play, he also remains frustratingly impenetrable, required to be both mercenary and bleeding heart. Trimmed down to a svelte 110 minutes without interval, this Duchess is overall a dark, insidious, and thrilling concentrate. Its minimal, nightclubby set, studded with quiet doors and ensnaring lights, facilitates the fluid way in which characters move in the text, assembling and reassembling in various permutations. The sense of doublecrossing and deceit is white hot as this punished woman and everyone she's touched go to their inevitable end. https://youtube.com/watch?v=bgy-GkSQ7Mk
When Jurassic Park first trampled across the big screen back in 1993, with director Steven Spielberg adapting Michael Crichton's novel of the same name to box office glory, it tasked Jeff Goldblum with uttering four now-iconic words. As mathematician Dr Ian Malcolm, Goldblum announced to the world that "life... finds a way" — which has proven true of the crafty dinosaurs within this huge blockbuster franchise, and also of the ongoing series itself. That initial mega-hit flick spawned sequels in 1997 and 2001, which then led to the Jurassic World trilogy — aka 2015's Jurassic World, 2018's Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and now 2022's Jurassic World Dominion. So yes, films about dinosaurs revived through genetic engineering just keep finding their way to the screen, although the just-dropped first trailer for Dominion poises this sixth flick as wrapping up the story (for now, at least). Directed by Colin Trevorrow, who also helmed the first Jurassic World film, Dominion jumps back into this dino-filled vision of earth four years after the last flick — which saw Isla Nublar destroyed. The franchise's pivotal ancient predators now live alongside humans, which is obviously a tenuous, tense and terrifying situation. Understandably, co-existing with dinosaurs threatens life as everyone knows it, not to mention humanity's future. Chris Pratt (The Tomorrow War) and Bryce Dallas Howard (Rocketman) return for Dominion, after starring in the past two Jurassic World movies, but nostalgia also finds a way here — with not only Goldblum oozing his usual charisma again, as he did in Fallen Kingdom, too, but fellow OG cast members Laura Dern and Sam Neill also returning. Those three familiar faces earn a hefty amount of attention in Dominion's first sneak peek, but the trailer doesn't skimp on its rampaging critters, either. In fact, the film even promises never-before-seen dinosaurs this time around. Also featuring: DeWanda Wise (The Harder They Fall), Emmy nominee Mamoudou Athie (Archive 81), Dichen Lachman (Animal Kingdom), Scott Haze (Minari) and Campbell Scott (The Amazing Spider-Man 2), plus returning cast members BD Wong (another original Jurassic Park star, and part of all three Jurassic World films), Justice Smith (Pokemon: Detective Pikachu), Daniella Pineda (Cowboy Bebop) and Omar Sy (Lupin). Movie-goers will be able to see how this whole humans-and-dinosaurs mayhem all pans out in full when Dominion hits cinemas Down Under on June 9. Check out the trailer for Jurassic World Dominion below: Jurassic World Dominion releases in cinemas Down Under on June 9, 2022.
As social distancing has become our new way of life, Aussies are preparing to spend a solid chunk of the coming weeks at home, which means you're probably already busy scouting out bulk entertainment options to see you through. Well now, you can add a few audiobooks to that hit-list, thanks to the good folk at Audible. The online retailer is offering a bunch of its recorded books to download for free. And that's without locking you into its usual free trial period. The newly launched free collection of stories is primarily aimed at kids stuck at home during the outbreak (and of course, their parents), though it's also got a few literary classics tucked away in there as well. Among the books translated into six different languages, you'll find gems like Jane Eyre — narrated by UK actress Thandie Newton — Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray, Persuasion and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, and Aldous Huxley's novel Brave New World. You might fancy diving into The Call of The Wild by Jack London, or even settling in with Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Whatever your style, there's plenty of hours of entertainment amongst this lot. The stories are free to stream on your phone, tablet, desktop or laptop, and with no sign-up required, you can jump on and start listening straight away. The free Audible Stories are available now via the website.
Underground is a flexible word. At the Sydney Underground Film Festival it can mean under the radar, shocking or simply strange. Put together originally as an antidote to the demise of alternative cinemas like the Valhalla, Third Eye or the Mandolin, it has a line-up which straddles a broad range of independent films that don't tend to get a showing elsewhere. This year the Festival returns with screenings at its Factory Theatre HQ, excursions to a Sydney College of the Arts after-party and a Mu Meson Archives festival warm-up. Opening the festival are the low-budget super-heroics of Super by Troma refugee James Gunn. A Man Within will profile the writer and Kerouac-befriending William S Boroughs, while at Sydney College for the Arts, Jack Sargeant will curate post-festival day of local and American film at SUFF+Plus. This College excursion also bulges in the middle with a panel featuring writers from X, the local low-budget, Kings Cross thriller that features as the festival's closing night film. Free Radicals presents a history of experimental filmmakers, including luminaries like Andy Warhol and Maya Deren, while doco Dragonslayer follows one boy's coming-of-age in US skateboard culture. Also up for grabs are sessions of shorts spotlighting women directors, sex & love, and animation. As part of this year's Sydney Underground Film Festival Concrete Playground is proud to present the screenings of The Ballad Of Genesis And Lady Jaye and Trilogy.
Indecisive eaters of Australia, rejoice: you no longer have to pick between two go-to snack foods. Feel like a doughnut, but also feel like a muffin as well? Not quite hungry enough to tuck into both? Spending too long deciding which to eat? Behold your new culinary saviour — the duffin. The concept is right there in the name, with this mashup combining a doughnut and a muffin. And, none other than Krispy Kreme is making them — so if you already covet the chain's treats, here's something else to try. Do these kinds of food hybrids actually make picking something to eat easier — or do they make it harder because you've now got a third option to choose from? Good question. Either way, they rely upon the novelty factor, and the idea that combining two tasty dishes has to result in something special. If you're eager to give Krispy Kreme's duffins a whirl across your tastebuds, they've hit shelves from Tuesday, July 5 in three flavours. So, you do actually have a few more choices after all — picking between apple and cinnamon, blueberry and white chocolate, and double choc. The first option features toasted oats and a spiced apple filling, while the second includes real blueberries on top and a blueberry filling inside. As for the third, it gets its chocolate fix via choc chip pieces and a chocolate custard filling. To get snacking, you'll find the duffin trio at Krispy Kreme and 7-Eleven stores across Australia for $4 each. Krispy Kreme's duffins are available from Tuesday, July 5 at Krispy Kreme and 7-Eleven stores across Australia.
Reading all seven of JK Rowling's Harry Potter books in 70 minutes? Not even Dumbledore himself could conjure up that kind of magic. Seeing the entire saga play out on stage in the same amount of time, with room for a quidditch match too? Well, thanks to Potted Potter: The Unauthorised Harry Experience, that's another matter entirely. If you don't have the time to reread your favourite novels, are looking for a quick refresher before the next Fantastic Beasts film hits cinemas or would just like a brief wander through the entire story for the fun of it, then this comedic production has you covered. As created by double Olivier Award Best Entertainment nominees Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner, you'll watch two performers relive the wonder of the boy who lived and recreate the terror of he who must not be named — and whiz through it faster than you can say "accio books!" (or almost that fast). And, if you somehow still have no idea what all the Harry Potter fuss is about, consider this the ultimate primer. Of course, Potted Potter: The Unauthorised Harry Experience is a parody, so it comes with plenty of laughs when it plays the Seymour Centre from Tuesday, June 22 to Sunday, July 4. Images: Scott Joe.
In 2018's Skate Kitchen, filmmaker Crystal Moselle let audiences air and ollie through New York, with the entrancing and often dreamlike teenage drama stepping inside an all-female skateboarding crew. Even better: it was based on a real-life group of the same name, and starred its members. Now, because this story just keeps getting better, the director has brought all of the above back for TV spinoff Betty. You don't need to have seen the film to enjoy this slice-of-life look at these girl skaters' lives, however. All you need is a couple of hours to watch these young women hit their boards, navigate the normal adolescent experiences, and cope with all the ups and downs of trying to literally glide through a male-heavy realm. And, to simply enjoy spending time with these friends — because Moselle is particularly skilled at making her viewers feel like they're part of the gang.
The world's most famous plumber siblings wearing colour-coded matching outfits? Tick. Earworm tunes? Tick again. Mushrooms aplenty, castles, tunnels, blocks that need bumping and flowers that let you shoot fireballs? Just keep ticking. All of the above are accounted for in the second and full trailer for The Super Mario Bros Movie, aka the animated flick that's bringing Mario, Luigi and all of the Nintendo-created gang back to cinemas. Also on that hefty list of inclusions: a rainbow road, and racing along it Mario Kart-style. This just-dropped sneak peek at The Super Mario Bros Movie arrives after an initial teaser back in early October, and gives Nintendo fans a bigger look at the world of the film and its characters — all of which look very faithful to their gaming counterparts. And yes, basically everyone's a fan of Mario. We've all played Nintendo's Mario games, including on Google Maps and mobile phones. We've tried our hands at Mario Kart in reality, too. And, we've made plans to hit up the Super Nintendo theme park in Japan, or perhaps the upcoming second site in Hollywood. (Also, if everyone hasn't watched 1993's live-action Super Mario Bros, which starred Bob Hoskins as the titular figure, John Leguizamo as Luigi and Dennis Hopper as King Koopa, then they need to at least once.) Come March 2023, however, cinemas will be pressing start on the new The Super Mario Bros Movie, which has enlisted Chris Pratt (The Terminal List) to voice the Italian plumber. Clearly, the former Parks and Recreation star doesn't have enough big franchises on his resume already; see: Guardians of the Galaxy, Jurassic World and The Lego Movie. So far, there's only one new Super Mario Bros, but predicting there'll be more if it does well at the box office is as easy as collecting mushrooms in the games. This new full trailer includes a heap of other nods to Mario and the crew's time behind all of our controllers, sees Bowser (Jack Black, Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood) proclaim his desire to rule the world and casts Luigi (voiced by Charlie Day, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) as the Mushroom Kingdom's comedic sidekick. Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy, The Menu) is determined to take on the challenge, and dispense words of advice in general, while battling Donkey Kong (Seth Rogen, Pam & Tommy) also features. The Super Mario Bros Movie's voice cast also includes Keegan- Michael Key (Wendell & Wild) as Toad, plus Fred Armisen (Wednesday) as Cranky Kong. And, it hails from directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic (Teen Titans Go!, Teen Titans Go! To the Movies), is penned by Matthew Fogel (Minions: The Rise of Gru) and is produced by Illumination Entertainment (aka the studio behind the Despicable Me and Minions flicks, and the Sing films). Check out the full trailer below: The Super Mario Bros Movie releases in cinemas Down Under on March 30, 2023.
Some people are going to be very unhappy with Belvoir. After one recent play in which two women constantly murdering each other prompted loud revulsion (not from us), here is another female ensemble repeating the same act. For longer. More gruesomely. In all fairness, though, it's totally different. The two companies take distinctly separate approaches to the theme of violence in life and on stage. Cain and Abel, from The Rabble, is aesthetically rich, mercilessly cerebral, and earnest in that very Melburnian way. Recently, the interstate experimentalists have turned pornography into art (The Story of O) and staged The Portrait of Dorian Gray as a presentational maze (Room of Regret). They don't go easy. With Cain and Abel, they take a simple and intriguing premise: what would happen if the Biblical first act of violence was committed between sisters rather than brothers. Would it change how we see woman-on-woman violence? Would it be normalised? Would it be more explicit? Are women cursed to the cycle of violence just as easily as men? The Rabble's strength is definitely in looks. Artistic directors Kate Davis and Emma Valente also designed the set and costume and the lighting and sound respectively. The production elements are the story here, as much as what's going on between actors. The group explores their theme in a glass-walled greenhouse that fills the tiny Belvoir Downstairs space. Shrouded in haze and periodically drenched by a sprinkler, performers and regular Rabble-aisians Dana Miltins (Cain) and Mary Helen Sassman (Abel) drift through the space, until Miltins swoops in for the kill. Rinse, repeat. As their costumes deplete from Mormon to minimal, the iconography seems to get correspondingly more modern. The scenes hint at jealousy, disdain, competition and sadism — always carried through to their extreme. What it all means, it's hard to say. Unfortunately, The Rabble's own views on women and violence are communicated so opaquely that it is difficult to draw much significance from the gender-swap. It is more a presentation of female violence, whose meaning comes from your reaction to it. Are you repulsed? Disconnected? Turned on? That might matter. If you're partial to a bit of open-endedness — particularly served bloody and phantasmagorical — then there's a lot to love in Cain and Abel. The work is imaginative and risky, its elemental imagery is powerful, and at a little over one hour, it doesn't overstay its welcome. Having the Rabble visit Sydney is a rare pleasure we could get definitely get used to. Image by Brett Boardman.
He's the creative mind behind Uluru's spectacular Field of Light installation, which pulled more than 200,000 visitors in its first eighteen months and has been extended twice to keep up with demand. And now, renowned British artist Bruce Munro has lent his talents to yet another landmark Aussie exhibition. This time, he is illuminating the tree-lined Avenue of Honour in Albany, Western Australia. Field of Light: Avenue of Honour kicks off today and will run until April 25, 2019, in honour of the ANZACs who departed for the Great War from this southernmost point of the state 100 years ago. It's an immersive work, aglow each night with 16,000 flower-like glass spheres, 'planted' by local volunteers to form a glowing carpet through the avenue's memorial trees. Arriving at peak wildflower season, the glowing orbs also nod to this corner of the country's unique plant life, referencing the whites, yellows and greens of the wattle and New Zealand's kowhai. Munro's Field of Light: Avenue of Honour installation will be free to wander during its stint Down Under, which coincides with the ANZAC Centenary commemorations. If you'd like to visit, you'll have to plan a bit of a trip. Albany is located a five-hour drive (or one-hour flight) from Perth. Field of Light: Avenue of Honour runs from October 4, 2018 until April 25, 2019. Images: Mark Pickthall, courtesy of the Bruce Munro Studio
It's the Swedish structure that's reimagining social spaces, and its about to take its unconventional meeting place abroad. Earlier this year, Stockholm-based artist duo Bigert and Bergström revealed the 'Solar Egg', a modal, stainless golden steel, reflective, egg-shaped sauna with a heart-shaped wood burning stove, as based in the town of Kiruna. Now, they're bringing it to Paris. The Solar Egg will bring the Kiruna-style sauna experience to the French city's Swedish Institute across November 25 and 26, and December 2, 3, 9 and 10. Visitors are encouraged to don their swimmers, stand next to the fire and pretend they're somewhere snowier — and wear designer dressing gowns while they're touring the installation. As far as interactive art pieces go, it's both acutely beautiful and functional, with stainless golden mirror sheeting reflecting the surrounding scenery. Inside, the sauna's interior is made of pine wood panelling and decks, and aspen benches, with an iron and stone stove in the centre. Temperature varies between 75 and 85 degrees Celsius in the egg. The striking structure was originally commissioned by Swedish economic and real estate association Riksbyggen as a "social sculpture", according to the artists, providing a communal space for the residents of Kiruna to discuss their town's problems. And, they have a lot to talk about while enjoying a sauna together. Kiruna is Sweden's northernmost village, with a population of just under 20,000. In 2003, they realised that due to adjacent iron ore mining activity (activity which provides thousands of jobs for locals), the ground beneath the town was becoming unstable. The solution? Move the whole town three kilometres away. The relocation has been underway ever since and will continue to trudge along, piece by piece, for many more decades supported by the government and the mining company responsible. Like town, like golden egg — which can also obviously be disassembled and relocated. Alas, anyone hoping to see the Solar Egg pop up elsewhere will find themselves disappointed, with the installation due to return to Kiruna after its Paris stint. By Imogen Baker and Sarah Ward. Images: Riksbyggen and Futurniture.
While Australia can sometimes feel a little disconnected from the rest of the world, much of the globe can relate to our ongoing refugee situation. It's these widespread geopolitical and migration crises that world-renowned artist and activist Ai Weiwei is shining a spotlight on with his New York public art exhibition, Good Fences Make Good Neighbors. After running a crowdfunding campaign to fund the project back in August and September, the Chinese creative's latest installation is up and running from today until February 2018. The powerful showcase features a series of large-scale works throughout the entire city, as Ai Weiwei highlights the role of the security fence in dividing people, the immigration and border control practices and policies that go along with these physical barriers, and the current global rise in nationalism. https://www.instagram.com/p/BaHLa7Rn9hh/?taken-by=publicartfund Spanning more than 300 sites across five boroughs, the artist's huge fence-inspired works can be found at places like Central Park and Greenwich Village's Washington Square Arch, as well as on top of and between private buildings. He has also created a collection of flagpole-mounted works, sculptures around bus shelters and two-dimensional lamppost banners. Meanwhile, traditional advertising spaces at bus shelters, LinkNYC kiosks and newsstands will display images taken during Ai Weiwei's time researching at refugee camps across the world. Good Fences Make Good Neighbors stems from his own experiences with displacement and detention, combined with his recent research surrounding the global refugee crisis. If you can't make it to New York to see the installation in person, Instagram has you covered. For more of Ai Weiwei's exploration of the topic, Human Flow, his latest documentary, is due in Australian cinemas in March 2018. Images: Ai Weiwei studio via Kickstarter.
Drag your wig, feather boas and heels out of the closet this Australia Day and feel like royalty alongside your favourite queen, Priscilla, with a special 21st birthday screening of The Adventures of Pricilla, Queen of the Desert at St George Openair Cinema at Mrs Macquaries Point. With Sydney Harbour as a backdrop, this is a quieter, more chilled way to celebrate Australia Day, enjoying a film and a landscape that make our country stand out. Wine and dine at the pop-up precinct as the sun sets, before settling in as the enormous 350 square metre screen rises from the water.
In the just-dropped full season-three Only Murders in the Building trailer, Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez, The Dead Don't Die) asks Oliver Putnam (Martin Short, Schmigadoon!) and Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin, It's Complicated) a key question: "who are we without a homicide?". When you're characters in a murder-mystery comedy who make a podcast about murders in your building, death comes with the territory. So does chatting about it — and both are covered in this latest and lengthiest sneak peek at the show's new batch of episodes. This time, it's actor Ben Glenroy (Paul Rudd, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania) who has shuffled off this mortal coil — and at opening night of theatre producer Putnam's latest Broadway show. Of course Mora, Putnam and Savage are going to get sleuthing again, as they did with past murders in season one (aka one of the best new shows of 2021) and season two (one of the best returning shows of 2022). And of course scrambling to save Putnam's career is also part of the storyline. Season three stars not only Gomez, Martin, Short and the ageless Rudd, but also the one and only Meryl Streep (Don't Look Up) as it add another bit of murder, a new mystery to solve and plenty of laughs to the winter streaming lineup. The show returns on Tuesday, August 8 with its main trio spending plenty of time on Broadway trying to work out who is responsible for Gilroy's death, and why, with help from Streep as his co-star Loretta Durkin. "Is this really happening again?" asked Putnam in the first teaser trailer for the new batch of episodes. Yes, yes it is. So is the series fondness for big-name guest stars, as viewers will know from both season one and two. Tina Fey (Girls5eva) has been a significant presence, Sting and Amy Schumer have played themselves, and Cara Delevingne (Carnival Row) has also popped up. If you're yet to experience Only Murders in the Building's charms, it follows its central odd trio after they bond over two things: listening to a Serial-style podcast hosted by the show's own version of Sarah Koenig, aka Cinda Canning (Fey); and a death in their luxe abode. Of course, they did what everyone that's jumped on the true-crime bandwagon knows they would if they were ever in the same situation, starting their own audio series that's also called Only Murders in the Building. That's how season one kicked off — and continued, proving a warm, funny, smart and savvy series at every step along the way. In the show's second go-around, another death needed investigating. That time, it was someone the main trio were all known not to be that fond of, so suspicions kept pointing in their direction. Check out the full trailer for Only Murders in the Building season three below: Only Murders in the Building's third season will start streaming Down Under via Star on Disney+ from Tuesday, August 8. Season one and two are currently streaming. Read our full review of season two — and of the show's first season, too.
You finish high school, finish your arts degree, finish your DipEd, and then you're back in some demountable on the edge of the oval. You're qualified for the job on paper, but how much have you changed, physically and emotionally, since schoolies four years ago? It's a complex situation impressively explored in British writer John Donnelly's funny and fraught play The Knowledge. Running from a relationship breakdown in London, fresh-faced Zoe (Silvina D'Alessandro) has come to Tilbury in Essex to teach the roughest class in a rough school. It's not expected that she'll impart learning to the teens in her bludgy 'citizenship' class so much as keep them from disrupting the learning of others. Precocious Karris (Karli-Rae Grogan), defensive Sal (Isaro Kayitesi), thuggish Mickey (Benjamin Ross), and reserved Daniel (John Benda) run rings around her but also threaten and destabilise her in more intense ways than we'd generally realise. The banter between them is excellent to watch, only bettered, perhaps, by the no-nonsense talk at Zoe's meetings with her fellow staff, principal and flamboyant cynic Harry (Barry French) and Zoe's mentor, Maz (Brett Rogers), who is ardently trying to seduce her (as well as a sizeable portion of the other young women in Tilbury). They are each imperfect. Donnelly spent time as an educator and, much like our home-grown Lachlan Philpott, has a real ear for the cadences of teenagerhood, the pragmatism of teachers, and the socioeconomic gulf between the two at underprivileged schools. The Knowledge comes to the Newtown Theatre's Spare Room program courtesy of pantsguys Productions, whose last effort, the flooring Punk Rock, was also set in school grounds. It may have been the result of happy accident more than grand plan, but the plays actually work as companion pieces, one focusing on the inner lives of students, the other on the inner lives of teachers, and both drawing out issues in education. They're very worthy programming choices. Director Rebecca Martin (seen onstage in Punk Rock) has done a great job; there's an overlapping quality to the scenes that's handled smoothly. The flirtations are as intense as the bullying, and there are also some huge laughs. Most importantly, in a pivotal first-half scene where Zoe is in a drunk fugue, costumed in school uniform and drowning out everything with the Cure, we are right there with her when she does the unthinkable and launches herself into the embrace of a student. We understand why these characters do the unwise, compromising, and unfair things they do. If anything, the staging could have been a touch less hyperactive, as their directionless energy comes across without the constant shifting of feet and desks. It's the work of the actors that pushes The Knowledge into being a standout. The performances are universally strong, and each gets to steal a scene, but particularly wowing are the actually still school-aged Benda, called on to charm with intellect and intensity, and pocket rocket Grogan, who brings so much sass, likeability, and vulnerability that Karris becomes a whole, living character beyond what was given to her in the writing. And accent nitpickers out there, you won't be troubled. This is a very authentic-sounding visit to Essex.
Come From Away has already proven an enormous success on Broadway and in London's West End. It has a heap of Tony and Olivier awards to its name as well. And, it has graced the stage in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney over the past few years, so Australian audiences have been able to experience its charms. Haven't yet been able to see the acclaimed musical? Already attended, but keen to give it a rewatch? Whichever fits, you'll soon be able to watch it from your couch, because the popular production is bringing its remarkable true tale based on real post-September 11 events to streaming from Friday, September 10. Apple TV+ has announced that it'll be adding a filmed version of the hit musical to its online catalogue. Yes, there's a difference between a filmed version and a film. Come From Away joins Hamilton in falling into the first category, because this streaming release features a recorded version of the play as shot at New York City's Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. So, you'll be watching footage of a live version of the musical, featuring the Broadway cast (including original and current ensemble members) and directed by Tony-winner Christopher Ashley. If you aren't familiar with the musical's plot or the actual events that inspired it, it's quite the exceptional story. In the week after the September 11 attacks in 2001, 38 planes were unexpectedly ordered to land in the small Canadian town of Gander, in the province of Newfoundland. Part of Operation Yellow Ribbon — which diverted civilian air traffic to Canada en masse following the attacks — the move saw around 7000 air travellers grounded in the tiny spot, almost doubling its population. Usually, the town is home to just under 12,000 residents. To create Come From Away, writers and composers Irene Sankoff and David Hein spent hundreds of hours interviewing thousands of locals and passengers, using their experiences to drive the narrative — and, in many cases, using their real names in the show as well. The result is a musical not just about people coming from away (the term that Newfoundlanders use to refer to folks not born on the island), but coming together, all at a time when tensions were running high worldwide. Since being workshopped in 2012, having a run in Ontario in 2013, then officially premiering in San Diego in 2015, Come From Away has become a global smash. After opening on Broadway in 2017, it was still running before the theatre district closed due to COVID-19. The musical wowed crowds in the West End, too — and, when it first opened in Melbourne in July 2019, it became the Comedy Theatre's most successful musical in the venue's 91-year history. Along the way, the show has picked up a Tony Award for best direction of a musical, six other nominations, and four Olivier Awards out of nine nominations. Apple TV+ hasn't released a trailer for its filmed version of the musical, but you can check out a clip from the Melbourne production below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zmvy1p2FOE&feature=emb_title The filmed version of Come From Away will be available to stream via Apple TV+ from Friday, September 10. Images: Jeff Busby.
Album artwork, gig posters, band t-shirts, on-stage theatrics — music is mainly about the sound, but it’s also about the look. From endless highways snapped from the window of a tour bus to Capybaras that look like Rafael Nadal, Concrete Playground rounds up ten Instagram accounts that give you a look inside the intoxicating life of a modern muso. 1. ED DROSTE OF GRIZZY BEAR Username: @eddroste If you want to believe that rock stars survive solely on beer, passion and leftover pizza, look away now. According to his Instagram feed the frontman of indie rock band Grizzly Bear halts the tour bus to capture isolated beaches, sundrenched city skylines and pretty pink Peonies. Droste’s mastery of digital filters makes the Brooklyn Botanic Garden look like a scene from Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, and he’s one of the few people who can Instagram his lunch without you wanting to poke him in the eye. 2. BENJAMIN CURTIS OF SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS Username: @benjamincurtis Benjamin Curtis’ spacey, psychedelic guitar sound is echoed in his trippy Instagram shots. Capturing everything from dead birds to dilated pupils and blurry neon signs, this futuristic photo feed is the antithesis of Ed Droste’s comparatively tranquil digital scrapbook. Not recommended for pregnant women or sufferers of motion sickness. 3. CATCALL Username: @catcallmusic Catcall’s Instagram feed confirms everything you thought you knew about her — she’s cute, funny and hangs out at cool spots. She’s also a huge fan of tennis, which is a fact you might not ascertain just from listening to her music, and has posted photos of Capybaras that look like Rafael Nadal on more than one occasion. 4. AZEALIA BANKS Username: @azealiabanks A life it would be particularly enjoyable to steal is the life of Azealia Banks. In between rubbing shoulders with Karl Lagerfeld and Kanye West at Chanel parties Banks hangs out with bottles of Veuve Clicquot and Prada handbags, but shots of funny cats and novelty condoms show she’s really just like us. Sometimes. 5. GROUPLOVE Username: @grouplove Grouplove’s Hannah Hooper is a painter as well as a singer and has a BFA from New York’s Parsons School of Design, so she’s probably overqualified for the post of managing her band’s Instagram feed. Her sharp eye has given Grouplove’s Instagram account a pleasantly consistent, colourful aesthetic, kind of like an action-packed hippie convention with less dried kale and more Texas BBQ. 6. BIG SCARY Username: @bigscarymusic Big Scary’s unique blend of indie pop has provided the busy duo with travel opportunities aplenty, and with touring around California comes In-N-Out Burger and Jimmy Dean’s meal sized breakfast biscuits. Big Scary have Instagrammed only 23 times to date, which isn’t great in the fast-paced world of social media, but in this case it’s a matter of quality over quantity. 7. THEOPHILUS LONDON Username: @theophiluslondon Theophilus London’s Instagram bio warns that the feed contains “emotional photos”. The emotion he’s referring to is probably jealousy because the photos are primarily of amazing sneakers, but Instagram’s most stylish rapper also has a penchant for gig posters and his equally stylish friends. 8. TWERPS Username: @twerps “We’ll get drunk, we’ll get stoned, we’ll get high, we’ll get drunk…” A satisfying mix of gig shots, scenery, alcohol and delicious/hilarious food, Twerps have got the workings of a great Instagram feed down pat. The jangly Melbourne quartet might sing about getting sauced, but their digital album is surprisingly coherent (and munchies like Klondike’s frozen Choco Tacos do make for great photographs). 9. PEAKING LIGHTS Username: @peakinglights The Wisconsin duo with an eight-and-a-half minute song called “Marshmellow Yellow” has an equally psychedelic and sun-drenched Instagram feed filled with highway scenery, neon signs and old motorcycles. There’s even a picture of a miniature leather motorcycle jacket for baby Mikko’s birthday present. Cute! 10. SOULJA BOY Username: @souljaboytellem “thanks for liking my pictures if you have time sign up on sodmg.com”. Grammar might not be Soulja Boy’s forte, but he’s incredibly skilled at taking selfies while flexing his muscles, pulling gangsta signs and wearing copious amounts of bling. Instagram is available via the Apple App Store or Google Play
While some interstate travel could be back on the cards for Australians by next month and trans-Tasman travel by July (according to the Federal Government's three-step plan for a COVIDSafe Australia), it looks like other international travel could still be a while off. Australia and New Zealand's borders are currently closed and all international travel is banned, and Australia's Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy has said he can't see this changing any time in the foreseeable future. Murphy told a Senate inquiry into COVID-19 as much yesterday,Wednesday, May 13: "I cannot see border measures materially changing for some time." Murphy also said that two-thirds of Australia's COVID-19 cases had been overseas-acquired and he had "no vision" of when strong borders could be relaxed. An analysis released earlier this week by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the trade association for the world's airlines, and Tourism Economics has an equally dire outlook — for international travel, not so much for domestic. According to the report, the best case scenario is that air travel will be back to normal (2019 levels) by 2023. While it's expected international air travel will take four years to recover, the report predicts domestic travel will bounce back faster. "The impacts of the crisis on long-haul travel will be much more severe and of a longer duration than what is expected in domestic markets," said IATA CEO Alexandre de Juniac in the report. The average length of flights will drop — as shown by the below graph — as people preference exploring their own backyard, over international jaunts. So, while European adventures and could still be a while off, exploring Australia could be a possibility in the not-so-distant future. Many states and territories have closed borders at the moment, though — including Queensland, Tasmania, WA, SA and NT — and regional travel is still off-limits, but we'll let you know when that changes. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and what travel is and isn't allowed, head to the Department of Health's website. Domestic travel is now allowed in New Zealand — read more about COVID-19 Alert Level 2 here.
UPDATE: JULY 1, 2020 — Due to worldwide cinema closures and other concerns around COVID-19, Tenet will no longer release on its initially scheduled date of Thursday, July 17, 2020. Instead, it will now release on Thursday, August 13. This article has been updated to reflect that change. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. Every ten years, Christopher Nolan sends audiences on a wild journey. The Batman Begins, The Prestige and Interstellar filmmaker makes movies more often than that, but a decade seems to be how long it takes to indulge his weird and wonderful side. In 2000, that led to Memento, the film that helped bring the writer/director to broader attention. In 2010, Inception and its dreams within dreams were the end result. Now, in 2020, Nolan is trifling with time and tasking BlacKkKlansman's John David Washington with trying to stop World War III, all in the trippy Tenet. Indeed, when an initial trailer for the film dropped last year, it instantly gave off big Inception vibes. Combining temporal trickery, logic-defying stunts, Michael Caine and an ominous, droning score will do that. The fact that the trailer didn't reveal much in the way of narrative detail also helped more than a little. Now, a new sneak peek has just hit after first premiering via the video game Fortnite — and it provides a bit more information. This being a Nolan flick, Tenet is certain to save its biggest surprises until it releases in cinemas; however, the new trailer does confirm that communicating with the future and reversing the flow of time are both on the agenda. Yes, that paints a very intriguing picture, with the new footage combining fresh clips with a few sights already seen in original trailer. Washington plays a spy, partnered with Robert Pattinson, who is trying to stave off something worse than a nuclear holocaust. To do so, he "journeys through a twilight world of international espionage on a mission that will unfold in something beyond real time", according to the film's official synopsis. That means inversion — not time travel, as he makes plain in the new footage. Tenet also features Australian actor Elizabeth Debicki (Widows), Harry Potter's Clémence Poésy, Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Avengers: Age of Ultron), Himesh Patel (Yesterday), Martin Donovan (Ant-Man) and Kenneth Branagh — with the latter also starring in Nolan's last film, the World War II epic Dunkirk. And as for when you're likely to see the filmmaker's 11th feature, it's currently now slated for a mid-August release — a change from its initial mid-July release, which was listed in the text beneath the new trailer on YouTube. It's interesting to note that the trailer itself doesn't include a release date, however. The film has been heralded as the big blockbuster that'll help reopen cinemas after their COVID-19 shutdown, but whether that'll happen is yet to be seen — and will depend upon the status not just of cinemas Down Under but around the world, and especially whether theatres have opened en masse in the US (including in major markets such as New York and Los Angeles). Check out the latest Tenet trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3pk_TBkihU Tenet is slated to release in Australian cinemas on August 13, 2020. We'll update you if that changes again. Top images: Copyright: © 2020 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
How much does Netflix love British royalty? If five seasons of The Crown so far and its Harry and Meghan specials are anything to go by, the streaming platform is more than a little fond of the monarchy. Or, to be more precise, it knows that its subscribers feel that way thanks to all our binge-watching — so expanding its focus on the UK's sovereigns and their families via new Bridgerton prequel series Queen Charlotte was always bound to happen. Initially announced in 2021, now slated for a May 4 release and just unveiling its first teaser trailer, too, this upcoming show was always likely for another reason: Bridgerton's huge success. And while the hit page-to-screen series focuses on a firmly fictional aristocratic family in the 19th century — set in the Regency era, it's a work of imagination as well as alternative history — Queen Charlotte was indeed real. Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story will delve into the figure's backstory within the Bridgerton realm, including her rise to power and prominence, and the importance and impact of her reign. Also covered: her relationship with King George, as well as Violet Bridgerton and Lady Danbury's early years. The prequel series will chart how the Queen's marriage to George also created a societal shift, in fact, sparking the world of the ton as seen in Bridgerton — and it's being called part of "the Bridgerton-verse" by Queen Charlotte and Bridgerton executive producer (and Grey's Anatomy and Scandal creator) Shonda Rhimes. So yes, as well as the already-announced third and fourth seasons of Bridgerton itself, you can probably expect more spinoffs to arise. After releasing a first-glimpse clip from the show in 2022, Netflix's debut trailer for Queen Charlotte offers further glimpses at its young titular figure (India Amarteifio, The Tunnel) and George (Corey Mylchreest, The Sandman). Queen Charlotte will also feature Golda Rosheuvel (Dune) as the older version of its namesake, as well as Ruth Gemmell (Deep State) as Violet Bridgerton and Adjoa Andoh (The Witcher) as Lady Danbury. They'll be joined by Connie Jenkins-Greig (Solitary) as young Violet, Arsema Thomas (Redeeming Love) as young Lady Danbury, Michelle Fairley (Gangs of London) as Princess Augusta, Sam Clemmett (Cherry) and Hugh Sachs (Bridgerton) as the young and old Brimsley, Richard Cunningham (The Witcher) as Lord Bute, Tunji Kasim (Nancy Drew) as Adolphus, Rob Maloney (Coronation Street) as the Royal Doctor and Cyril Nri (The Witches) as Lord Danbury. Check out the first teaser trailer for Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story below: Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story will stream via Netflix from May 4. The first and second seasons of Bridgerton are available to stream now. Images: Liam Daniel/Netflix.
It's a time-travelling romantic dramedy shot in the desert on the cheap, but what The Infinite Man lacks in size it makes up for in brains and heart. In that way, the film is a lot like its protagonist: the jumpy, obsessive, hopelessly romantic Dean (Josh McConville). A scientist of non-specific genius, Dean wants desperately to give his girlfriend, Lana (Hannah Marshall), the perfect anniversary weekend. Instead, his controlling behaviour ends up driving her back to her ex (Alex Dimitriades). Not to worry though. Dean can just casually invent a time machine and give the holiday another go. And another. And another. And another. Supported by the same South Australian funding initiative that helped pay for 52 Tuesdays, The Infinite Man is the rare sort of film that feels invigorated, rather than hamstrung, by its obvious financial constraints. Limited to just three cast members and a single, isolated location — an abandoned desert motel — first-time writer-director Hugh Sullivan has very few crutches to fall back on, and is instead forced to draw on a deep well of creativity to ensure his movie is a success. The Infinite Man is showing at Sydney's Dendy Newtown and Melbourne's Cinema Nova from September 18. Thanks to Infinite Releasing, we have ten double in-season passes to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Read our full review of The Infinite Man here. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au
There's no doubt that Black Star Pastry is best known for its sweet creations. After all, its claim to fame is being the creator of the world's most Instagrammed cake: the iconic Strawberry Watermelon Cake. However, for their latest trick, they've stepped further into the savoury realm by teaming up with local institution South Dowling Sandwiches on a limited-edition pie. Fusing the culinary talents of both establishments to create a pie that mixes and matches diverse flavours and textures, shaping this pithivier-style pie also requires a rather dedicated approach and refined skillset. Inside this domed delight, South Dowling Sandwiches has whipped up a winter-warming blend of caramelised carrots, spicy chilli chicken and vibrant red pesto. Enveloped in a flaky, buttery pastry shell, plenty of precision, finesse and attention to detail are needed to achieve the ideal rise and shape. Fortunately, you couldn't ask for a more experienced team than this esteemed partnership when it comes to assembling complex pastries. And the results speak for themselves, as this savoury delight resonates with just a little fanciness. While Black Star Pastry has taken the world by storm with its viral sensations, South Dowling Sandwiches is a slightly more down-to-earth affair. Serving stacked sarnies across Sydney for the past 15 years, this proudly family-run outfit has attracted a steadfast local following thanks to its signature caramelised carrots. Ready to taste? This limited-edition pie is up for grabs at selected Black Star Pastry locations — Newtown, Rosebery, Sydney CBD, Chatswood and Parramatta — and at all South Dowling Sandwiches locations — Darlinghurst, Alexandria and Millers Point. Available from Thursday, May 22–Sunday, June 1, you've got plenty of places to visit when craving this French-style crust. Just know, quantities are limited, so it's a good idea to get in early. For those who are really prepared, you can place a pre-order for two or four packs on the Black Star Pastry website, with pickup available at any location. Black Star Pastry and South Dowling Sandwiches' limited-edition pie is available at select store locations from Thursday, May 22–Sunday, June 1. Head to the website for more information.
