17th Biennale of Sydney set to unveil program

David Elliott, Artistic Director of the 17th Biennale of Sydney will unveil details of his exhibition program and artists at a media launch to be held at the Sydney Opera House on Wednesday 10th February 2010. Registered members of the media wishing to attend should contact Kym Elphinstone on 0421 106 139.

Call out to emerging Sydney artists

Art Month Sydneyis calling out for submissions by emerging Sydney-based artists to get involved in the new visual arts festival's 'artist speed dating' initiative. For more information see the Art Month Sydney Facebook Fan Page http://bit.ly/bZkFc1

Tao of Now opens at White Rabbit Gallery

White Rabbit Gallery in Chippendale, Sydney has unveiled its second exhibition The Tao of Now, featuring work by over 40 contemporary Chinese artists, ranging in age from 26 to 57 years.  The majority of works have never before been seen in Australia and include  painting, works on paper, sculpture, installation and new media. 

Highlights include  Qin Fengling’s Scaffold (pictured) which swarms with mini human figures climbing up and over each other, all created from paint squeezed straight from the tube. Wang Yuyang’s life-size, dust-covered minivan appears to breath slowly in and out, whilst Zhang Chun Hong has created an 11-metre-long, near-photographic drawing of a plait of hair.

Media preview of new exhibition at White Rabbit Gallery: 'The Tao of Now'

Erhu master Xing Lu comes to Sydney for first time

Xing Lu will arrive in Sydney on 1 February in preparation for the Chinese Gardens Chamber Music Festival, which will be held in the Chinese Gardens of Friendship from 4-6 February 2010.

Described as making a sound closest to that of the human voice, the traditional Chinese instrument erhu is China's most famous instrument.  It was introduced to central China by minority tribes from the northern frontier during the Tang Dynasty (618-907AD). For the festival, directed by John Z Huie it will be played alongside the cello, violin and guitar as well as other Chinese instruments the guqin and the pipa.

About the festival

White Rabbit Gallery set to launch new exhibition

Install commences at White Rabbit - Sydney Morning Herald, 18 January 2010

A sneak preview of what Sydney visitors can expect from 22 January after the White Rabbit Gallery reopens its doors to the public with a new collection of 60 contemporary Chinese artworks. Many of the works have never before been seen in Australia and range from an 11metre photo-realist drawing of a plait of hair to large sculptural installations, new media and video works and a life-sized van which 'breaths' as it sits in the gallery.

Yum-cha concerts in Sydney's Chinese Gardens of Friendship, 4-6 Feb

For the first time outside China, Xing Lu, master of erhu, China’s most popular classical instrument (said to produce the closet sound to the human voice) heads the star line-up for the 2010 Chinese Garden Chamber Music Festival on February 4 -6.

Following the critical acclaim of John Huie’s inaugural Chinese Gardens Chamber Music Festival in 2009, the Australian composer and festival director returns to direct his second festival in one of Australia’s most beautiful music venues, the Chinese Garden of Friendship, located in Sydney’s Darling Harbour.

Fast being recognised as an ambassador for China’s rich diversity in music heritage, Huie has taken a fresh approach to this year’s Festival, with two different programs each day. There will be a matinee Yum Cha concert, plus an evening concert, also with Chinese food served at interval.

“The aim of the festival is to bring Australian and Chinese audiences and artists closer together through a greater understanding and appreciation of beauty, complexity and variation of culture across the regions of China,” said John Huie.

The festival offers a special insight into Chinese heritage and culture through music and food.  

Held in the sheltered Hall of Longevity located within Sydney’s walled Chinese Gardens in Darling Harbour, the Yum cha concerts begin at 11.30am and the evening concerts at 7.00pm. Before the evening concert there will be a thought-provoking pre-show talk from 6.30pm. An authentic Chinese meal will be served at interval in the evening.

Joining the erhu master Xing Lu at the festival will be two more of China’s most highly celebrated musicians: Tong Ying, master of the pipa, and guqin player, Jin Wei. They will be joined by leading Australian chamber music artists cellist Patrick Murphy, percussionist Claire Edwardes and resident Conservatorium quartet, the Orava.

Xing Lu (playing erhu), Patrick Murphy (playing cello) and John Huie (playing guitar) will combine to perform Huie’s new work “Planet Earth”. Percussionist Claire Edwardes will play contemporary Chinese chamber music works and the Orava String Quartet will illustrate commonalities between European and Chinese music. In addition, Bach inventions 6 and 9 have been arranged for cello (Patrick Murphy) and erhu (Xing Lu).  The total repertoire will result in an electric program that combines and contrasts Chinese, Australian and European works, both ancient and modern.

Concert tickets are $85 each. Seating is limited to 147 seats per concert and bookings can be made through the Musica Viva box office on 1800 688 482.

See footage at www.johnhuiemusic.com

Redlands Westpac Art Prize appoints Lindy Lee as curator & celebrates 15th anniversary

The Redlands Westpac Art Prize 2010 has announced the appointment of respected Australian contemporary artist Lindy Lee as the curator for its 2010 and 2011 exhibitions.

Lee takes over curatorship duties from renowned artist Imants Tillers, who oversaw the Prize from 2007 until 2009. Both Lee and Tillers are former winners of the Prize, with Tillers having won the inaugural Prize in 1996 and Lee being awarded the Prize in 1998.

As curator of the 2010 Redlands Westpac Art Prize, Lee is responsible for selecting 18 established contemporary Australian or New Zealand artists to participate in the exhibition by presenting new or recent work. Each of the established artists in turn invites an emerging Australian artist to also present new work for the exhibition. 

A total cash prize purse of $31,000 is available to the exhibiting artists, with $20,000 being awarded for the main prize, $10,000 to the emerging artist winner and $1,000 for the viewer’s choice award.  The winning artworks in the main and emerging artist prize categories will be acquired into the permanent collection of Redlands.

The winners will be announced on Friday 19 November and the exhibition will be open to the public from 20 November until 5 December 2010 at the Mosman Art Gallery.