YINKA SHONIBARE MCA exhibition begins stateside tour

Gallantry and Criminal Conversation, 2002
Courtesy the artist and the Stephen Friedman Gallery, London
Image: http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/turnerprize/2004/shonibare3.shtm


A developed retrospective of YINKA SHONIBARE MBE's work is currently on display at the Brooklyn Museum of Art. The exhibition was originally organized by MCA Sydney and curated by Rachel Kent.

Mr. Shonibare (who is British-Nigerian) has come to represent 'Post-colonial art' of the late 90's and early 00's. His work 'Gallantry and Criminal Conversation' 2002 was praised and analysed around the world when included in Documenta 11 in the same year and the 2004 Turner Prize. The exhibition's next stop is the National Museum of African Art at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC.

COFA Spring Fair stalls up for grabs

This event is usually on a beautiful spring day with a friendly atmosphere and is a lot less sweaty than the COFA Annual. To be held this year on the 19th of September the COFA Spring Fair Art and Design Markets provide huge exposure for COFA's artists and designers. Stall priority is given to current students and then graduates. Stall holders take 100% of profits with a $25.oo stall fee, however with 5000 people visiting each year this does not seem much compared to possible profit. Contact the COFA Marketing Department for more info.

Free contemporary art e-cards

In the middle of winter we all need a little bit of colour. Artbank has provided this service for a while but these FREE e-cards might be just the ticket to give someone or a group of friends a little colour in their inbox (beyond the usual spam and videos of Kittens falling asleep). The quality is a hell of a lot better than some poorly designed singing ones and promotes the work of whatever artist you pick. The choices are pretty varied and are changed over every couple of months.Current artists include David Griggs, Petrina Hicks and Lucy Culliton.

TimeBomb artist to present at Dorkbot

Time Bomb - Interactive Graffiti (StupidKrap & Holler) from Mike Hill on Vimeo.

Many of you may have seen the interactive graffiti work Time Bomb which was presented at the Opening night of Creative Sydney '09, 2 weeks ago. One half on the TimeBomb team Lukasz Karluk will be discussing his work at a Dorkbot event in Sydney. Dorkbot Sydney is the local chapter of an international group which has artists and creative people in fields such as electronics, science and technology present on projects they are doing. Thus giving artists and people interested in working with electronics in a strange way a chance to collaborate.

The event where Lukasz Karluk will be presenting is on the 23rd of June at Serial Space in Chippendale. See dorkbotsyd.boztek.net for more info.

Biennale Round-up: Venice 09/Sydney 10

Todd Heisler/The New York Times
“The Collectors,” an installation by Elmgreen & Dragset.

The New York Times is reporting that this year's Venice Biennale is a more somber, quiet affair with several budget cuts making the infamous parties and events more low-key. One of the biggest hits according to the Times was the installation, “The Collectors,” by Berlin-based team Elmgreen & Dragset who set up a house of dysfunctional family members including one dead in the pool. Installed in the Danish and Nordic Pavilions, it is clear that the North Europeans sure know how to despair well.




http://www.biennaleofsydney.com.au/bos17/


The Biennale of Sydney has also launched their 2010 theme and website. Entitled ‘THE BEAUTY OF DISTANCE: Songs of Survival in a Precarious Age’ and curated by David Elliott, the Biennale of Sydney will be held from the 12 May – 1 August 2010. According to Elliott, the title of the 17th BoS;‘Songs of Survival in a Precarious Age’ is inspired by Harry Everett Smith (1923–91)who compiled a historic recording, Anthology of American Folk Music, known to many blues and roots enthusiasts and released during the combative 1950's.