Contemporary Arts
Featured Stories
Peter Cripps: Towards an elegant solution
July 12, 2010Australian Centre of Contemporary Art is exhibiting a major survey of influential artist Peter Cripps, including several of his significant sculptures and installations. Cripps makes meticulous structures that investigate the development of radical modern... more >
Death Be Kind
July 16, 2010Death be Kind is the intriguing name of an art project being put on in a small gallery space in inner Melbourne. It's being curated by two artists - Elvis Richardson and Clare Lamb, and is designed to evolve over the next 12 months. The first installati... more >
Latest Contemporary Arts across the ABC
If you want to get beyond the spin of candidates during this Federal Election campaign, you need look no further than the Art Gallery of Ballarat.... more >
Stephen Benwell has been creating intricate and beautiful ceramics for more than 20 years. He invited us into his Melbourne studio.... more >
Dead birds win Hobart Art Prize
Dozens of intricately sculpted dead birds and a video of Los Angeles street performers have taken out the top awards in this year's Hobart Art Prize.... more >
Someone's gotta make the dough!
Canberra artist Robert Guth combines his two passions: art and food.... more >
PREVIEW Art Nation - Laith McGregor
Laith McGregor creates intricate biro drawings of men with beards, moustaches and goatees. Watch the full story on Art Nation this Sunday at 5:30pm on ABC1 and 7pm on ABC2.... more >
Youth self portrait prize announced
Young Sydney based artist Bridget Mac has won the the National Youth Self Portrait Prize 2010 for her self portrait titled masculine/feminine.... more >
The "man from MoMA", Glenn D Lowry, on the challenges facing art museums in the 21st Century. Followed by a panel of arts industry figures including Tony Sweeney, John Kaldor and Elizabeth Ann Macgregor. More...... more >
Glass creation wins Waterhouse art prize
Artist Nikki Main has won this year's Waterhouse Natural Art History Prize.... more >
Matthew Barney's mythical macrocosm
The Cremaster Cycle by American artist and filmmaker Matthew Barney is a five part art-film and spectacular exploration of the process of creation - symbolic, indulgent and nine years in the making. Last week I embarked on an eight hour carnival of visual... more >
Banksias, Blooms and views of the Bay
An exhibition in Esperance is honouring three local artists who died of breast cancer.... more >
Scientists and musos are teaming up to work out how to make music for people with cochlear implants.... more >
Peter Cripps: Towards an elegant solution
Australian Centre of Contemporary Art is exhibiting a major survey of influential artist Peter Cripps, including several of his significant sculptures and installations. Cripps makes meticulous structures that investigate the development of radical modern... more >
Artist Geoff Newton talks to Raafat Ishak, one of the rising stars of the Australian contemporary art scene, about his latest exhibitions both here and overseas.... more >
Video artist chronicles frontline Afghanistan
A multimedia artist whose ancestors fought in the First and Second World Wars has become Australia's latest official war artist.... more >
As part of the NAIDOC Week, the University of Ballarat is exhibiting work which celebrates a rich Aboriginal culture and the contribution Indigenous art brings into the community.... more >
A slice of Melbourne in East Perth
A slice of Melbourne reveals itself in East Perth.... more >
Simon O'carrigan's hand-drawn film The Petrol Can Rider explores addiction, tyranny of distance and an apocalyptic sentiment in the setting of our Australian desert. The film was inspired and adapted from a short story called The Coal Scuttle Rider, by F... more >
Art Nation - Natalie Ryan Web Extra
Artist Natalie Ryan brings a colourful and unique take to the classical world of taxidermy. We check out her solo show Unnatural Selection at Gippsland Art Gallery in Sale.... more >
Festival of sound art & installations
Sound artists from around Australia inhabit Heide's beautiful gardens as part of Seven Thousand Oaks Festival. Festival director Miyuki Jokiranta and sound arts curator Ben Byrne (Electrofringe, Liquid Architecture) reflect on the vision of the festival a... more >
Pigram brothers Friday night concert in Dampier!
Its all about celebrating the culture of indigenous Australians, and NAIDOC week in the North West has been a week long celebration with good food, live music, friends and lots of cultural activities.... more >
Tim Burton's magical world is on show until October 10 at Melbourne's Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI). Drawings, sculptures and movie memorabilia create a visual tribute to the creative mind behind such classic films as Beetlejuice, Edward S... more >
Noongar Country preview art exhibition
From paintings in the Carrolup style to contemporary works in acrylic, the Noongar Country exhibition has it all.... more >
New York Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) director Glenn D Lowry delivers a keynote speech, Museums Of The 21st Century, at Melbourne's Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) on Thursday, June 24, 2010.... more >
An artist who once painted propaganda posters for North Korea is now enjoying success after defecting to the South.... more >
Five prominent figures in the art world discuss the future of museums in the 21st century.... more >
NT Country Hour podcast 21/06/2010
Brunette Downs race goers cast their eyes over contemporary works celebrating 100-years of racing at the remote station and is mining all that it's made out to be for Australia by it's supporters?... more >
In the final posting of his series of posts from China, ABC Arts blogger Reko Rennie visits Shanghai's Propaganda Poster Art Centre.... more >
Namila Benson talks to young Perth artist Bennett Miller about his latest work, Dachshund UN, featuring 47 live dogs recreating a meeting of the United Nations.... more >
Newcastle born and New York based conceptual artist Ian Burns is back in Australia for a residency of a decidedly different nature.... more >
Art Nation - Shanghai Emerging Artists
Fenella Kernebone visits Neocha, a company of young creatives that's transforming the cultural scene for young artists in Shanghai.... more >
Visual arts proves way to face demons
Andrew Mallard, a man who was wrongfully convicted for the murder of Pamela Lawrence, has taken on a new life change as a visual artist and is launching his first solo exhibition.... more >
PREVIEW Art Nation - Dachshund UN
This week Art Nation looks at artist Bennett Miller's latest work, featuring 47 dogs recreating a meeting of the United Nations: Sunday 20 June, ABC1, 5.30pm; ABC2, 7pm.... more >
Two Tasmanian artists are making tigers out of sheep's clothing. The Tasmania tiger, or thylacine, became extinct in the 1930s, largely because sheep farmers saw them as vermin. Now artists are using wool to create felt that's made into a Tasmanian tiger ... more >
Nanjing Rd leads to Shanghai's art gems
Reko Rennie visits Shanghai's art galleries and museums while visiting China for the World Expo.... more >
The annual Environs Kimberley Art Auction is a highlight in the Broome Calendar, and this year it was bigger than ever.... more >
Art Nation - New Shanghai Artists
Fenella Kernebone takes a look at the next generation of artists in Shanghai.... more >
Two centuries of social comment 'in your face'
From early colonial days to just a few days ago, the In Your Face exhibition at the Art Gallery of Ballarat features some of Australia's most bold political cartoons.... more >
PREVIEW: Art Nation China Special
Fenella Kernebone and the Art Nation team visit the Shanghai World Expo, a major architectural and cultural showcase for Australia and the world.... more >
Painting the streets of Shanghai
I recently painted a wall with several street artists in Shanghai. The experience was amazing. The language barrier was a bit of an issue but we managed to get the job done.... more >
PREVIEW Art Nation - China special
Fenella Kernebone and the Art Nation team visit the Shanghai World Expo, a major architectural and cultural showcase for Australia and the world.... more >
Fenella Kernebone visits the Brisbane Powerhouse to see what happens at a PechaKucha night, a simple concept that has become a worldwide phenomenon.... more >
Art Nation - John Olsen's Culinaria
Culinaria is John Olsen's latest show, a series of paintings celebrating the emotion of food and its occasions.... more >
Landing in China for Shanghai Expo
I have always been fascinated with China. Earlier this year I was given the opportunity to complete a sculpture representing the state of Victoria at the Shanghai Expo in China. ... more >
Namila Benson chats to Brook Andrew about his work "Jumping Castle War Memorial" at the Sydney Biennale.... more >
Art Nation - Barbarians at the Gate
Contemporary artist Fiona Hall discusses her latest installation at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Sydney.... more >
Watch this stunning preview of ReelDance Festival's innovative dance on screen program, a thrilling celebration of creative practice that will leave you spellbound!... more >
ABC Arts blogger Reko Rennie returns to Paris for an exhibition in which he was invited to paint one of his stencil designs on a wall in the suburb of Oberkampf.... more >
Watch a sneak preview of Jack Pam's Artscape documentary Photography Hijacked, screening on Tuesday 18 May from 10.05pm on ABC1.... more >
Next Wave launches ambitious art fair
Next Wave Festival launches with a large-scale emerging art exhibition and residency program exploring independent arts culture from across Australia and Asia.... more >
The picturesque town of Fish Creek in Victoria's Gippsland region is home to a thriving artistic community.... more >
Oakley makes headway with Headland
Jade Oakley is unusual for a sculptor. Where others may use a chisel or an oxyacetylene torch her tools of trade are her hands and a pair of pliers.... more >
Art Nation - Christian Jankowski
Andrew Frost previews German artist Christian Janowski's Sydney Biennale project, which work involves TV journalists reporting on the production of an artwork.... more >
Henson's exceptional talent cowed?
Marieke Hardy visits Bill Henson's new exhibition for the ABC's Arts Gateway and asks whether this once pioneering artistic maverick has grown uncertain and shy in his work.... more >
Human Rights Arts and Film Festival
A dedicated team of passionate creatives bring you the boldest films and artwork from Australia and around the globe. Festival director Matthew Benetti talks us through the program highlights and festival vision to challenge, touch and inspire. Now in i... more >
Art Nation is ABC TV's exciting new weekly magazine program. Presented by Fenella Kernebone, this half-hour program promises a fun and fascinating ride through Australia's rich arts culture.... more >
Melissa Loughnan's Collingwood gallery Utopian Slumps became something of an icon in Melbourne's art scene before closing last year. Loughnan has now opened a new space in the heart of the city.... more >
Artist finds use for found objects
Sydney-based artist Daniel Wallace uses recycled materials and found objects to reflect his principle of relaxing into life. Camera, editing and production: Slawek Janicki. ... more >
I recently created an art bicycle for a group exhibition at Melbourne's Dianne Tanzer Gallery.... more >
South Australian artist Julia Robinson's figures evoke gothic fairytales and Satanic ritual, exploring how humour and terror go hand in hand. View her exhibition at Melbourne's Anna Pappas Gallery until May 8. Story by Alex Parry.... more >
Artscape - Lisa Roet: Ape Lady
Lisa Roet has dedicated her entire artistic oeuvre to an exploration of primates.... more >
Swords crossed over Wynne Prize
Fenella Kernebone speaks with art buffs on the NSW Art Gallery steps to find out what you thought of Sam Leach's controversial Wynne Prize painting.... more >
Art Pops: Wynne Prize wrangling
Fenella Kernebone pounces on arts lovers at the Art Gallery of NSW steps to chat about Sam Leach's controversial Wynne Prize painting. Appropriation or plagiarism? Should he keep the prize money? We leave it to you to decide!... more >
Ben Quilty has built a career on painting the booze fuelled world of Australian suburban bloke's culture. Artscape follows Ben as he struggles to find out just what it is to be a man today.... more >
Watch an extended Artscape interview with feminist Germaine Greer on Australian artist Ben Quilty, whose works explore the booze-fuelled world of blokes' culture.... more >
Palimpsest | Photography Exhibition
We venture into the historic Firestation Print Gallery studio and catch up with Rachael Delmenico and Marie Watt about their latest exhibition. 'Palimpsest' means scraped again. Every photo has a long history still bearing a small glint of its former self... more >
Backstage with Sonny Vandevelde
Australian fashion photographer Sonny Vandevelde is renowned for his quirky, stylish, and beautifully shot photography that showcases all the magic and excitement of behind the scenes at an international high calibre fashion parade, offering a unique glim... more >
Melbourne Fashion Week's Runway 6 show was an electric display of some of the festival's favourite cult designers.... more >
ABC Arts blogger Reko Rennie shows how he creates stencils in his studio.... more >
Chooky Dancers perform in Ngurrumilmarrmiriyu
A Romeo and Juliet tale of forbidden love in a community where the complex laws of 'skin' and clan define all relationships. Elcho Island community and Elders collaborate with award-winning director Nigel Jamieson (Honour Bound) in 'Ngurrumilmarrmiriyu' (... more >
Carmel Wallace's coastal Colony
Portland environmental artist Carmel Wallace uses found materials to construct her remarkable artworks, displayed in the final exhibition held at Melbourne's Gallery 101.... more >
The annual Cow Parade - one of the world's biggest public art events - has come to Western Australia's Margaret River.... more >
Art Nation - Adelaide International 2010
The Adelaide Festival's visual arts program, The Adelaide International, is bigger and better this year to mark the event's 50th anniversary.... more >
Street artists transform Yarra Place
A local group of street artists come together to transform an inner Melbourne laneway and in the process help raise money for homeless children. Take a stroll down Yarra Place to experience this colourful street canvas. Curated by Drewfunk. ... more >
From light-filled environments to walk-in kaleidoscopes, Olafur Eliasson's unique, experiential works explore the intersection between nature and science. Eliasson's exhibition Take Your Time is on at the Museum of Contemporary Art until April 11, 2010.... more >
Gilbert and George seduce with live sculpture
ABC presenter Virginia Trioli talks to Gilbert and George at the National Gallery of Victoria in front of a live audience. The contemporary art duo discuss their artwork, from performance based sculptures through to large scale photo works. The live discu... more >
Ron Mueck is notoriously media-shy and prefers to let his art speak for itself. Art Nation presenter Fenella Kernebone makes it her mission to try to get inside his head.... more >
Artscape - The Art Life at Asia Pacific Triennial
Andrew Frost explores the growing connection between Australia and Asia at the much lauded GOMA exhibition, The 6th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art.... more >
Chris McAuliffe investigates revivals, the latest being The 80s are Back exhibition at Sydney's Powerhouse Museum. Culturally was there more to the decade than synth pop and shoulder pads?... more >
You can find great street art in any Australian city and there's plenty in Melbourne, which is where Reko Rennie caught up with one of the legends of stencil art - Blek Le Rat.... more >
Art critic, writer and blogger Andrew Frost investigates the 6th Asia Pacific Triennial at Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art. Watch the full story on Artscape at 10pm Tuesday 16 February on ABC1... more >
Aerial anarchy kicks off Perth Festival
Fenella Kernebone watches Spanish troupe La Fura dels Baus and some brave locals stage a high-wire, high-ocane start to the 2010 Perth International Arts Festival. Choreographed especially for Friday's festival opening, the event involved 60 WA residents... more >
Re/gendered a platform for exploration
A Midsumma exhibition held underneath Melbourne's Flinders Street Station explores notions of gender.... more >
Conceptual artist Karen Casey uses neurotechnology and gaming software to create brainwave-generated art with three leading performance artists.... more >
Fenella Kernebone visits Ron Mueck's exhibition of hyper-real figures at the National Gallery of Victoria. Watch the full story on Art Nation at 5.30pm this Sunday on ABC1.... more >
Namila Benson talks to the artists behind the first exhibition of contemporary art from Papua New Guinea at the National Gallery of Victoria.... more >
Hamlet's dark labyrinth of rage
Hamlet is pushed to the extreme by one of the world's great theatre houses, Berlin's Schaubühne. ABC Arts caught up with Director Thomas Ostermeier on the company's long-awaited visit to perform at STC.... more >
Mod Off is one of those whimsical little art projects that I tend to be a sucker for. Melbourne artists Yvette King and Amy Marjoram have evolved their interest in "modified objects" from a fascination, to a low budget DIY one night exhibition and now to ... more >
Street art pioneer Blek Le Rat creates a brand new work in Melbourne's laneways alongside our very own Reko Rennie.... more >
Interactive violin exploration with Jon Rose
Preview P A L I M P O L I N, a Jon Rose interactive violin bow composition currently being performed across the nation. Jon has pioneered the exploration of interactive electronics through a series of violin bow powered MIDI compositions.... more >
After three months in Europe, Reko Rennie packs up his stencils and his studio in Paris to return to Australia.... more >
Renew Newcastle director Marcus Westbury shares his tips for converting vacant buildings in your area into a creative hub.... more >
100 artists decorate their own album cover of Neil Diamond's 1970 record Shilo which features a connect-the-dots image of his face.... more >
The arts and music scene in Sydney is thriving, but keep quiet about it, because they might shut it down. ... more >
Be part of this collaborative project by downloading the Shilo album cover and creating your own version of this iconic record sleeve.... more >
US artist Andres Serrano reacts angrily to the National Gallery of Victoria's decision to close his exhibition after attacks on the photograph Piss Christ and threats to gallery staff. ... more >
Keith Haring began his artistic career painting graffiti on the walls of the New York subway system, before bringing his work to Australia in 1984 at the Arts Gallery of NSW.... more >
Melbourne's inaugural Contemporary Art Biennial featured artworks including a man whose head was contained in a water-filled plastic box. ... more >
Fenella Kernebone looks at how Luna Park has fired the imagination of contemporary artist, Nick Waterlow.... more >
I always planned to put some art up in the UK, and obviously the connection to Australia and colonisation is something I have commented on through my work.... more >
Sydney set for cracker festival
I headed along to the launch this week of the 2010 Sydney Festival, the first of three festivals from new director Lindy Hume, and already I'm wondering how to find the time, space and funds to see everything, the program is so diverse. So, without goin... more >
National Portrait Gallery curator Gill Raymond explains how online exhibition Doppelganger was created in virtual reality community Second Life.... more >
Inner-city Sydney's no stranger to small boutique galleries these days, but in a converted knitting factory, a remarkable artistic vision has been born courtesy of one woman's love of contemporary Chinese art.... more >
Arlene Texta Queen adopts the tradition of the classical salon nude and "recon-texta-ualises" it with drawings done with the humble texta.... more >
Born in England and raised in Nigeria, Yinka Shonibare moved back to London at 17. A postcolonial hybrid, he questions notions of authenticity and history.... more >
Daniel Crooks won the inaugural $100,000 Basil Sellers Sport and Art Prize with his video 'Static no. 11(man running)', inspired by studies of human physiology.... more >
Aboriginal artist Daniel Boyd's gently ironic works reinterpret our colonial past, drawing attention to the subjective nature of Australian history.... more >
Born in England and raised in Nigeria, Yinka Shonibare moved back to London at 17. The postcolonial hybrid's art questions notions of authenticity and history.... more >
From a laptop in his Perth lounge room, Mark McPherson networked with arts communities across the globe to collect works by 40 photomedia practitioners.... more >
The Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art's 10th anniversary exhibition examined the complex relationships between individuals, society and the environment.... more >
Artists Ross Gibson and Kate Richards use 1940s crime scene images to develop an interactive environment where the audience determines the experience.... more >
