Barry Keldoulis joins Art Fairs Australia

Respected Australian art identity Barry Keldoulis has been appointed CEO and Group Fairs Director of Art Fairs Australia Pty Ltd, the presenting company behind the new Sydney Contemporary art fair, launching this September, and the Melbourne Art Fair.

The first focus for Keldloulis is to oversee Sydney Contemporary, the major new biennial contemporary art fair being presented for the first time at Eveleigh-based arts institution Carriageworks from 20th until 22nd September 2013, with a Vernissage to be hosted on the evening of Thursday 19th September. Sydney Contemporary and the Melbourne Art Fair will be presented on a biennial basis in alternate years, commencing with Sydney Contemporary this September and followed by the Melbourne Art Fair in 2014.

Slow Dances for Fast Times

This March, Carriageworks presents a new work by critically acclaimed choreographer Martin del Amo: Slow Dances for Fast Times. Featuring 12 individual dancer performances, each set to a distinct soundtrack ranging from pop favourites, dance anthems of the last 50 years to operatic arias. 

Del Amo has been described by the Sydney Morning Herald as someone who 'runs his own race as a performer, engaging the audience with the familiar yet provoking thoughts beyond our everyday experience." Tickets all $35 in keeping with the 'one price for all shows' policy inducted by Carriageworks for 2013.

Julie Rrap appointed curator of Redlands Konica Minolta Art Prize

Julie Rrap (pictured here in her own art work)

Respected Australian artist Julie Rrap has been announced as the new curator of the Redlands Konica Minolta Art Prize 2013. Rrap follows in the footsteps of former curators Imants Tillers and most recently Lindy Lee and will select a list of around 20 contemporary Australian artists to present work for the 2013 Prize which will be exhibited for the second consecutive year at the National Art School Gallery in Darlinghurst, Sydney. 

The Prize has a unique model in that the invited artists are each required to select an emerging artist to present work alongside them in the exhibition. In this light, it seeks to encourage mentoring relationships between younger and more established generations of artists. The Prize will be announced on 2 May 2013 with an exhibition of all works presented, free of charge, at the NAS Gallery until 1 June 2013.

New Hong Kong exhibition for Anthony White

Artist Anthony White with some works from his current exhibition

The first solo show of works by young Australian artist Anthony White has been unveiled in Hong Kong at the Cat Street Gallery. 'Informal Relations' is one man's study and fascination with painting - and more specifically form, texture, and the process of abstraction. His majestic, contemplative and powerful works, reveal tantalizing hints of landscape and dazzle with thoughtful hues and tones.

Originally from Sydney but now based in Paris, the artist comes from the gestural abstract painting school that has emerged from Australia in the last decade. White's work draws immediately from his response to the landscape and urban environment. His work is included in a number of prominent private collections including the collection of the costume designer Catherine Martin and filmmaker Baz Luhrmann.

Song Dong begins install at Carriageworks

Song Dong installation of 'Waste Not' as seen at MoMA, New York

Renowned Chinese artist Song Dong has arrived in Sydney to begin creating his large-scale contemporary art installation in the Carriageworks public space. Song Dong: Waste Not comes to Carriageworks from the artist’s family home in Beijing and was most recently shown at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The work was conceived by the artist following the death of his father and represents his mother’s process of mourning and remembrance. Consisting of the entire contents of Song Dong's mother's house, Waste Not reflects a journey of hardship and grief, resulting in a display of personal resilience, and ultimately a celebration of life.  Song Dong: Waste Not is presented by Carriageworks in association with 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art and the Sydney Festival and runs, free, from 5 January until 17 March. 

Kaldor announces most ambitious project in 40 years

Kaldor Public Art Projects today announced it will present the most ambitious project in its 40-year history - a major international contemporary art exhibition curated by two of the world’s most respected museum directors, running from 11 until 21 April 2013. 

13 Rooms brings together 13 famous artists and more than 70 trained performers to present a groundbreaking group exhibition of ‘living sculpture’ within 13 purpose-built rooms. The groundbreaking event, to be presented at Pier 2/3 in Sydney's Walsh Bay, has been curated by renowned museum directors and curators Hans Ulrich Obrist, Co-director of London’s Serpentine Gallery, and Klaus Biesenbach, Director of MoMA PS1 in New York.

Swiss design comes to Sydney

A touch of Swiss sustainability comes to Sydney this month as part of the Sydney Architecture Festival 2012. "Swiss Positions: 33 takes on sustainable approaches to building" is an exhibition, curated by Nathalie Herschdorfer, assembling photographs of key buildings of Swiss Architecture and Engineering from the past 20 years.  These 33 works explore the recent technical potential in regards to ecology and environmental protection. At the same time they emphasize their uniqueness. The exhibition runs from 24 October until 2 November 2012 at the Italian Cultural Institute, Level 4, 125 York Street, Sydney.