There are some very big things going down in Sydney this weekend, with the most super-sized being the start of The 20th Biennale of Sydney. So much mind-bending, challenging activities and art exhibitions will be spread across seven Sydney venues fashioned as “Embassies of Thought”; it’s a packed program with something for pretty much everyone so first and foremost we suggest heading heading out Cockatoo Island (one of the Embassies of Thought) and exploring that before you spread out your Biennale binge over it’s duration (until 5th June). Other than that, there’s a big burger showdown going on at Barangaroo, the ol’ Brewery Yard Markets down at Central Park, the Coogee Foreshore Festival, and more.
Biennale of Sydney (From Friday)
There is simply too much of Biennale of Sydney (headline image) to fit into one weekend so we’ll keep our suggestions nice and simple, focusing in on two the Embassies of Thought. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to explore the Embassy of the Real on Cockatoo Island, a space where artists will be presenting works that explore how we perceive reality in a digital age, as well as the physicality of the human body, with major exhibiting works by Korakrit Arunanondchai, Lee Bul, Cevdet Erek, Cécile B. Evans, William Forsythe, Camille Henrot, Chiharu Shiota, Ming Wong, and Xu Zhen (Produced by MadeIn Company).
After that, disembark the ferry at Circular Quay and head on into the Museum of Contemporary Art which will serve as the Embassy of Translation, presenting works that contextualise historical positions, concepts, and artfacts, along with contemporary concerns and working methods. Artists presenting work at the MCA include Nina Beier, Noa Eshkol, Helen Marten, and Dayanita Singh.
For more information on the massive program for the 20th Biennale of Sydney click HERE
Brewery Yard Markets at Central Park (Sunday)
One of the city’s newest markets has a unique setting to help it stand out, wedged in between the Central Park shopping centre and White Rabbit Gallery with a gorgeous open-air space. They pop up two times a month on Sundays with food from Brooklyn Boy Bagels and Eatabella’s Vietnamese BBQ alongside artisan designers, indie clothing labels, live music, and ping pong tables. Don’t leave without having a slice of delicious carbs from Cakey Bakey Heart either!
For more info click HERE.
Burger Kings at Barangaroo (Sunday)
This Sunday the stunning Wulugul Walk by the water at Barangaroo will be the location for an unprecedented burger war dubbed “Burger Kings”, pitting six of Sydney’s best against each other to be judged by a panel made of ravenous Sydneysiders, including you – yes, you. It’ll be a free entry, five-hour face-off with the goal of one-upamnship pretty much guaranteed to result in some of the juiciest burgers seen in Sydney yet.
Neil Perry will be repping the increasingly ubiquitous Burger Project, Aussie legend Jake Smyth is flying the Mary’s flag, Kerby Craig will show everyone just how damn good Ume Burgers are, and they’ll also be some additional burger offerings from the likes of Somer Sivrioglu (Anason), Monty Koludrovic (Icebergs Dining), and turf-king Morgan McGlone (Belle’s Hot Chicken).
For more info click HERE.
Coogee Foreshore Festival (Sunday)
March Into Merivale will close for another year with this beach-side foodie festival, spread out along the foreshore outside of Coogee Pavilion and also inside the sprawling mega-venue. Merivale always goes all out for this one so in addition to stalls from some of the best like Mr Wong and Papi Chulo, expect some fab entertainment on the day and live music in what truly is one of the area’s most spectacular settings.
For more information head HERE
safARI in Kings Cross (From Friday)
This is an unofficial fringe exhibition to the Biennale of Sydney, aiming to showcase the work of emerging and under-represented Australian artists, triggering a series of events throughout the Kings Cross area to coincide with the opening weeks of the Biennale. See a full list below of artists below and head HERE for more information. Also check out our top 5 picks of Art Month HERE.
SafARI 2016 Artists: Peter Nelson (NSW), Sophie Clague (NSW), Jesse Dyer (VIC), Grace Blake and Danny Wild (ACT), Anna Madeleine (ACT), Amalia Mayor (NSW), Hana Hoogedeure (NSW), Tamara Kohler (VIC), Jamie Lewis (VIC), Emily O’Connor (NSW), Akira and Nathan Lasker (NSW), Dominic Kirkwood (NSW), Danielle Zorbas (NSW), Catherine Clayton-Smith (NSW), Eloise Kirk (NSW), Ben Chadbond (NSW), David Attwood (WA), Philippe Vranjes (VIC), Sarah Poulgrain and Llewellyn Millhouse (QLD), Claudia Nicholson (NSW), Jana Hawkins-Andersen (NSW), Matthew Linde (VIC), Angela Garrick (NSW), Guillaume Savy (VIC), Katie Green and Undrawing The Line (NSW), Megan Clune & Angela Goh (NSW), Megan Hales (VIC).
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