10 things not to miss at Canberra Art Biennial
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Canberra Art Biennial kicks off this weekend, offering a unique opportunity to engage with and understand the layers of Canberra’s history through art.
The artworks and installations selected for the festival respond in some way to Canberra’s history, from 65,000 years to the present day. Here are 10 things not to miss.
Explore art around Canberra
During this biennial festival of contemporary art in Canberra, artworks are exhibited externally in the Canberra landscapes around Lake Burley Griffin, the National Arboretum Canberra, and the city.
Keep an eye out for works in collaboration with Commonwealth and Territory cultural facilities and private/temporary gallery spaces.
Find artworks using this map.
Localjinni’s Lakeside Moonwalks
Do you love cities at night but don’t like walking alone? Join one of Localjinni’s Lakeside Moonwalks.
Re-imagine the National Triangle on this walking film and sound show, created by local artists and inspired by urban play. Enjoy alternative art, activism and histories. See projections re-skinning architecture and sculpture and conjuring creative landscapes. F
The walks are approximately 2 km with a low level of fitness required and are suitable for wheelchairs and mobility scooters.
7 pm – 8:30 pm Saturday 28 September, 8 pm–9.30 pm on Saturday 19 October and 8.30 pm–10 pm on Saturday 2 November | Canberra Contemporary Art Space, Parkes | Get tickets
witness, collector, archivist, narrator
The exhibition witness, collector, archivist, and narrator revolve around the various possible interpretations of the action of documenting. The exhibiting artists consider the impulse to document with a varied focus and approach – capturing, recording, collecting, narrating, archiving, witnessing, following, tracing, etc.
The exhibition will bring together existing works in conversation with new commissioned work, engage audiences through a range of outcomes (from sound performances to socially engaged video work), and connect across a range of communities with local and national content.
Showing 28 September – 19 October | Canberra Contemporary Art Space, Parkes | ccas.com.au
Pop Songs in The Desert
Join curator Tegan Garnett for afternoon tea and a cuppa at Thor’s Hammer as she is joined by exhibiting artists Aidan Hartshorn, Caro Pattle, Jac Bradley, Jenna (Mayilema) Lee, Kirstie Rea, Luke Chiswell, and Nell to discuss the artworks and context for the exhibition.
2 pm Saturday 28 September | The Mixing Room Gallery, Thor’s Hammer, 10 Mildura Street, Fyshwick | canberraartbiennial.com
Canberra Art Biennial x Manzé x Such and Such presents: Palate Cleanser
Get along to Such And Such for an evening of fine dining and contemporary art and design, with ex-Bar Rochford Chef Nagesh Seethiah of Melbourne’s Manzé serving his renowned Mauritian-inspired cuisine.
Featuring an exhibition curated by Grace Blake showing artworks by Jac Bradley, Tully Moore, and Shaun Hayes, these dinners will be a true celebration of craft, artistry, and community.
Guests will enjoy a four-course dinner prepared by Chef Nagesh, artist talks and a chance to explore public sculptures outside the venue, locally designed and handcrafted tableware by Katie-Ann Houghton, and an exclusive art auction.
Monday, 30 September and Tuesday, 1 October | Such And Such, Constitution Place, 220 London Cct, Canberra City | Book here.
THIRD RUN CINEMA
Third Run Cinema is a temporary microcinema curated by Hannah de Feyter.
It prioritises programming experimental, arthouse, and classic world films that are otherwise unavailable to view or stream (legally) in Australia and screening them in a cozy and accessible context.
6.30 pm, Tuesday nights from 1 to 22 October | Juliet Room, above Verity Lane Market in the Sydney Building, 50 Northbourne Avenue Canberra City | Get tickets
Canberra Art Biennial at NFSA Acton
Celebrate Canberra Art Biennial at NFSA Acton with a striking new commission from contemporary Australian artist Bronte Cormican-Jones and a curated program of screenings and special events.
Exhibiting until 26 October, Of line, of light responds to the surrounding NFSA, Shine Dome and Ovolo Nishi Hotel structures. Acting at once as a collection of two-dimensional drawings in space, and three-dimensional sculptures, the work shifts from different perspectives. Steel elements act as sculptural frameworks for neon lighting, which comes alive at night.
5 – 13 October | NFSA Acton | Find out more
The Queer Pavilion
The Queer Pavilion will house the Cruel Optimism exhibition, as well as a program of workshops and symposiums by and for the Queer community and allies.
Cruel Optimism delves into the liminality of Queer realities, exploring themes of world-building, community construction, cryptic geographies, and the documentation of individual and collective histories. Drawing on Lauren Berlant’s concept of Cruel Optimism (2011), this exhibition investigates what knowledge can be produced through Queer-to-Queer dialogue and relational exchanges. It questions whether acceptance is a sufficient response to oppression or if more profound actions are needed to address systemic inequalities.
There are also a number of curated experiences, from an artist talk to a Queer Curators Symposium and Gay Clay ceramics workshop.
17 – 31 October | The Vault, Dairy Road, Fyshwick | thevault.place
Glass of Bubbles
Join the Canberra Art Biennial at the Canberra Glassworks for an evening of art, conversation, and live glassblowing, complete with a glass of bubbles.
Artists Erin Dickson and Emma Rani Hodges will be in conversation with Canberra Glassworks Artistic Director, Aimee Frodsham, to discuss their works currently on display at the Glassworks during the festival. Joining them will be glassmaker and designer Katie-Ann Houghton, to give a live demonstration of her new cup design for Palate Cleanser, created in the Hotshop.
5 pm – 7pm, Thursday 24 October | Canberra Glassworks, 11 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston | RSVP to creativeproducer@contour556.com.au
Discover more about the Canberra Art Biennial at canberraartbiennial.com
