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Spotlight On Sydney Contemporary

Our new favourite portrait of Ken Done, sculpture from Sean Meilak, plus epic installations from Patricia Piccinini, Ash Keating, Glen Barkley…

This year’s Sydney Contemporary has it all. The country’s ‘largest and most diverse gathering of local and international galleries’ is taking over Carriageworks from September 13th.

Here we share some of the artwork that’ll be on show, and highlight what’s not-to-be-missed across the varied program of events.

Written

Elle Murrell

Johnathan Dalton’s ‘White Onions’, represented by Nanda\Hobbs. Photo – courtesy of Nanda\Hobbs.

Tony Costa’s ‘Hacking River No2’, represented by Art Atrium. Photo – courtesy of Art Atrium.

Caleb Shea’s ‘Untitled’, as represented by Gallerie PomPom. Photo – courtesy of Gallerie PomPom.

Marc Etherington’s ‘King Ken’, as represented by Michael Reid. Photo – Michael Reid.

Ash Keating, represented by Blackartprojects, will be showcasing canvases in the gallery booth section and as part of Installation Contemporary. Photo – courtesy of Sydney Contemporary.

John Young’s ‘Spectrumfigure’, as represented by Olsen Gallery. Photo – Olsen Gallery.

Dale Frank’s ‘They Confiscated My Turks’, as represented by Gow Langsford Gallery. Photo – Gow Langsford Gallery.

Zoe Young’s ‘Lilac Wine’, as represented by Edwina Corlette Gallery. Photo – courtesy of Edwina Corlette Gallery.

Emma Walker’s ‘Sea Garden’, as represented by Arthouse Gallery. Photo – courtesy of Arthouse Gallery. Richard Dunlop’s ‘Untitled’, as represented by James Makin Gallery. Photo – courtesy of James Makin Gallery.

Vincent Namatjira’s ‘Albert and Battarbee’ , as represented by This Is No Fantasy Diane Tanzer + Nicola Stein. Photo – courtesy of This Is No Fantasy Diane Tanzer + Nicola Stein. Alexandra Standen’s ‘The Lopsided Hoya’, as represented by Chalk Horse. Photo – courtesy of Chalk Horse.

Tim Storrier’s ‘Boys Own Old History’, as represented by Australian Galleries. Photo – Australian Galleries.

Artworks by Clara Adolph, represented by Chalk Horse, ‘Swimmers’ and ‘Blue Tea Cup’. Photos – courtesy of Chalk Horse.

Robert Fielding’s ‘Objects of Origin’, as represented by Blackartprojects. Photo – courtesy of Blackartprojects.

Jenny Kitchiner’s ‘In The Service Of Trees’. Photo – Northern Rivers Contemporay. And Christian Thompson’s ‘Loom Aura 2’, as represented by Michael Reid. Photo – courtesy of Michael Reid.

Sally Anderson’s ‘Green Orchids On A Small River In Scotland’ as represented by Edwina Corlette Gallery. Photo – courtesy of Edwina Corlette Gallery. And Dick Frizzell’s ‘King Country’ as represented by Gow Langsford Gallery. Photo – Gow Langsford Gallery.

Sean Meilak’s ‘Study For Metaphysical Garden’, as represented by Niagara Galleries. Photo – Niagara Galleries.

Patricia Piccinini’s ‘The Field’ (developed for her show at GOMA), will be re-imagined in the Elston Room at Carriageworks. Photo – courtesy of Sydney Contemporary. Ben Quilty’s ‘The Biggest Bottom Feeder’ as represented by Tolarno Galleries. Photo – Tolarno Galleries.

Barbara Licha’s ‘Outback’, as represented by UltimoProject Studios. Photo – courtesy of UltimoProject Studios.

Margie Sheppard’s ‘Island 1’ and ‘Island 2’ as represented by West Gallery Thebarton. Photo – courtesy of West Gallery Thebarton. And Arryn Snowball’s ‘Saline Glows’, as represented by Nicholas Thompson Gallery. Photo – courtesy of Nicholas Thompson Gallery.

Writer

Elle Murrell

27th of August 2018

Art fair season has migrated north. Sydney-based collectors, industry professionals and the art-loving public can discover art from over 70 leading Australian and International and galleries at Sydney Contemporary, on from Thursday, September 13th until Sunday 16th.

Now confirmed as an annual event, the fourth iteration of the Fair will spread across seven large-scale exhibition spaces at Redfern’s Carriageworks, and will encompass the work of artists from over 32 countries. Alongside gallery booths, this year there will be three specially curated sections: Installation Contemporary, Performance Contemporary and Video Contemporary.

‘We’re delighted to announce a strong line-up of galleries for 2018, with a truly international offering of artists from across the globe that includes some of the most exciting names in contemporary art today,’ told Sydney Contemporary Fair Director, Barry Keldoulis.

For the first time Sydney Contemporary will include leading international galleries Pace Gallery (New York, Hong Kong, London, Beijing, Seoul, Palo Alto and Geneva) and Flowers Gallery (London and New York), while other internationals: Sundaram Tagore Gallery (Hong Kong, New York, and Singapore), Yavuz Gallery (Singapore), Gow Langsford Gallery (Auckland), and STARKWHITE (Auckland) will be returning too.

Though the international participation is a big drawcard, we’re also excited about seeing cutting-edge installations and new work from some local names, be they highly-coveted veterans or emerging new talents.

Ben Quilty gets everyone ready for the impending silly season with The Biggest Bottom Feeder, Marc Etherington has us smiling ear-to-ear for his King Ken portrait of Ken Done (Ken was wearing the same striped combo when we visited to capture this film last year!), and Vincent Namatjira showcases Albert and Battarbee, a work depicting his uber-famous grandfather.

Ash Keating is transporting some of his epic canvases interstate, trust us, the scale will blow you away! While another Melbournian, John Young, will be displaying his equality entrancing Spectrumfigures, and investigating his ‘Human-Computer Friendship painting’ in conversation with writer Anna Johnson.

Sally Anderson has turned her paintbrush to the landscapes of Scotland for stunning new works, her fellow New South Welshwoman Zoe Young‘s Lilac Wine has us wanting to laze in springtime sunshine, whilst Christian Thompson takes floral inspiration to new heights with his photographic work Loom Aura 2.

The previous three editions of Sydney Contemporary collectively attracted more than 60,000 visitors and recorded more than $40 million in art sales, which organisers highlight represented the largest short-term concentration of art sales in Australia annually!

Even if you’re not planning on making a purchase, the five-day fair is a peruser’s paradise, and is complemented by a program of talks, performances, events, guided tours and educational workshops. There’s also the Fair Restaurant, art bars, and pop-up cafes from leading Sydney restaurateurs, all making Sydney Contemporary a cultural calendar stand-out. Pencil it in!

Sydney Contemporary
September 13th-16th
Carriageworks
245 Wilson Street
Redfern NSW

VIP Preview Wednesday, September 12th
Opening night Thursday, September 13th