The 17th Biennale of Sydney is themed around "The Beauty of Distance: Songs of Survival in a Precarious Age" at first I didn't understand what it meant but with a little bit of help (thanks Amanda) it became more obvious to what it is alluding to.
'all art is folk art.'.....'fine' art and 'folk' art are here turned on their heads in an exhibition in which the only discrimination is whether the art is any 'good'
This is an interesting idea, but made me think: is this contradictory to say the only discrimination is whether the art is any 'good' and yet display the art work in certain groups? i.e. the Asia focus perhaps I need to see the rest of the exhibition?
There was one particular work that stood out to me which was Harry Smith's 'Film Number 12' this was the one displayed closest to the super deluxe bar. I had seen Smith's work before on youtube:
These types of experimental animations were made as far back as the mid 40's and are usually painted or
cut outs manipulated all by hand. They have elements of Dada and the Surrealists and also instantly reminded me of
Terry Gilliam who created the Monty Python animations.
Harry Smith was also an all round radical and was the inspiration for the Biennale theme. Apart from being
an artist he also collected historic recordings of early american folk music.
What a guy!!
I can't wait to see the rest of the biennale!
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