In-between spaces

Whilst the Biennale does return to its old haunts of the Art Gallery of NSW, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia and Cockatoo Island, an exciting development includes the ‘in-between’ projects.

Scattered throughout Sydney, these ‘in-between’ spaces are an addition to the main seven venues. They encourage the audience to knowingly or  unknowing stumble across a venue, and wander further into the city for more intimate art experiences. To explore the goings on in each of these ‘in-between’ spaces including Newtown Library, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Camperdown Cemetry and Redfern see here.

Discussing the scattering of the Biennale locations and sites, Stephanie Rosenthal spoke with Artist Profile stating, “I think it’s important to just spread it so that you run over to one work and experience it – it doesn’t have to be a whole exhibition. So that’s why I feel it’s really important to have it in places like Redfern or spread throughout the city, and to make sure that the pieces are making a statement – opening a different way of thinking.”

Discussing the title “The Future is already here – it’s just not evenly distributed”, Rosenthal highlights that the inclusion of ‘in-between spaces’ as critical to exploring the idea. This year the Biennale explores the common distinction between the virtual and the physical, which has become ever more elusive. Rosenthal states, “A focus on ‘in-between spaces’ is key: in terms of our interaction with the digital world, the blurred boundaries between art forms and the interconnection between politics and financial power structures.”

Each ‘in-between’ project is commissioned, and a sure highlight at 86 George Street, Redfern is a project by Brown Council (Frances Barrett, Kate Blackmore, Kelly Doley and Diana Smith). Creating a new participatory performance, Brown Council will call upon the audience to recall the past and imagine the future. This process of recalling and remembering moments from performances in the here-and-now creates a revised history of performance. Furthermore they reveal how history is constructed – through stories, memories and rumours. With up to 70% of artists creating new works, stay tuned for more updates as it is slowly revealed…

EXHIBITION
20th Biennale of Sydney: The future is already here — it’s just not evenly distributed
Friday, 18 March until Sunday, 5 June 2016
www.biennaleofsydney.com.au

Image: Lee Bul, Aubade III, 2014 (detail). Installation view (2014) at ‘MMCA Hyundai Motor Series, 2014: Lee Bul’, photographer Jeon Byung-cheol.

Courtesy the artist, National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea.