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BIENNALE OF SYDNEY ANNOUNCES 2006 ARTISTS

Dr Charles Merewether, Artistic Director & Curator of the 15th Biennale of Sydney, announced the names of 85 artists and collaborations from 57 cities who will participate in the Biennale of Sydney from 8 June to 27 August 2006. As Australia’s largest contemporary visual arts event, the Biennale of Sydney is renowned for showcasing some of the most innovative and challenging contemporary art from Australia and around the world. The 2006 festival will be held at over 15 venues and sites throughout Sydney, including the three principal venues; Pier 2/3 at Walsh Bay, Art Gallery of New South Wales and Museum of Contemporary Art, along with Artspace, Australian Centre for Photography, Blacktown Arts Centre, Campbelltown Arts Centre, Gallery 4a, Hyde Park Barracks, Ivan Dougherty Gallery, Museum of Sydney, National Art School, Performance Space, Tin Sheds at the University of Sydney, Sydney College of the Arts and the Sydney Opera House, along with various outdoor sites and special projects to be announced.

The 15th Biennale of Sydney, organised under the conceptual framework ‘Zones of Contact’, will feature artists from 57 cities, including countries and regions that are rarely represented in major international festivals and biennales. The artists selected for the exhibition work in all forms of the visual arts and at least half will travel to Sydney for the opening in early June. 2006 Biennale artists are among the boldest and most dynamic practicing worldwide. Dr Charles Merewether commented “There is a strong presence of artists from the Middle East, including Palestine, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt and Bahrain. There is an important representation from Eastern Europe, the Baltic and Balkan States —including artists from Russia, Latvia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro and Romania. There will also be a much stronger presence from the Asian region, especially India, Japan and China.” In commenting on the artist selection process, Dr Merewether today said “In the process of selection, it has not been my overt aim to include a particular region just for the sake of it, but to include it because of the significance of the practice coming out of that area and the artist’s own engagement with the 2006 conceptual framework ’Zones of Contact’. Of the 85 artists participating, approximately half will be presenting new projects, many of those stimulated by their response to the exhibition concept.”

Seven Australian artists have been selected, including indigenous artists Djambawa Marawili from the Northern Territory and Julie Gough from Queensland, both of whom are creating new bodies of work that will include painting and sculpture. Ruark Lewis, Rose Nolan, Tom Nicholson, Imants Tillers and Savanhdary Vongpoothorn will also be creating new works for the 2006 exhibition. Visitors to the Biennale of Sydney 2006 can expect to see a wide range of works across many genres including painting, photography, fabric, sound and voice, light and projected works, drawing, video, film, performance, sculpture and installation. Site-specific works will appear in various locations in and around the city, including at the Hyde Park Barracks and on JCDecaux street furniture.

Paula Latos-Valier, Managing Director of the Biennale of Sydney, said that “the 2006 Biennale will include a considerable number of artists from developing and less well known regions and we hope that the diverse international representation will engage more Australians from different backgrounds and communities.“ Ms. Latos-Valier commented “The 2006 Biennale will be one of the most ambitious and challenging in recent years with a range of special programs, most of which are presented free to the public, taking the exhibition far beyond the CBD to Sydney’s outer suburbs.” “Beyond the exhibition, we are also collaborating with arts organisations across Australia to develop an extensive Public Program of lectures, symposia, artists’ talks and performances, featuring Biennale participants—leading international and Australian curators, art historians and theorists—that will reach audiences Australia-wide. A professional program for visiting artists and curators will take place in partnership with museums, galleries and educational institutions in many cities.” Luca Belgiorno-Nettis, Chairman of the Biennale of Sydney added “Established over 30 years ago—the Biennale of Sydney is considered one of the pioneer biennales on the international art calendar. As the largest event of its type in this region, it offers a unique opportunity for Australians to see a major international art show.”

www.biennaleofsydney.com.au