If you thought the film Labyrinth was tripped out, wait till the Levity III installation comes to town for this year’s Awesome Festival. The UK Architects of Air have formed this twisted inflatable walk-through exhibition, a cavernous space saturated in colour and light. From the outside, Levity III looks like a piece of plastic left on a hot plate, blistering and deformed. Personally, I imagine this is what my mother’s womb must have looked like if I had a party as a foetus. Levity III is on from November 20 – 28 at Forrest Place, Perth CBD. Entry is free.
Attractive and disturbing are just some words to describe the works of U.S. artist Audrey Kawasaki who is bringing her Tangled exhibition to Perth this month. Painted onto unfinished wooden canvases, Kawasaki has a clear affinity for the female form as her works depict some erotic yet melancholy girls. There is something innocent and dangerous about these delicate femme fatales. Her works draw influence from art Nouveau as well as Manga comics; her portraits of women are notably fantasy however there is something unnervingly real in their eyes. Tangled is on until November 20 at Outre Gallery, 260 William St Northbridge, 9277 0666.
Imagine being the sole heir to a language, the last custodian of an entire culture? In a world premiere, the Yirra Yaakin Company will be presenting the new play Mother’s Tongue throughout the month of November. Mother’s Tongue follows siblings David and Ngala in the wake of their grandmother’s death. David becomes the only person left alive to speak his grandmother’s tongue and what ensues is a tale of trust and betrayal, lust and love. Mother’s Tongue is playing till November 20 at the Yirra Yaakin Theatre Space, 65 Murray St, Perth. Tickets on sale at www.yirrayaakin.com.au.
The Wicked Witch of the West is coming home. International Broadway hit Wicked is coming to woo the crowds of Perth next year. It isn’t often that a show of Wicked’s calibre ventures to the west; it has so far played over 850 performances in Australia after a series of sold-out seasons. Wicked has won 35 major awards including a Grammy award, three Tony awards and six Helpmann Awards including best musical. Wicked will be in Perth from June 24 till July 24 at the Burswood Theatre. Pre-sale tickets are available from November 8 through Ticketek.
Back in 2008, Natascha Stellmach invited around 200 people to smoke the ashes of dead Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain. Let’s take a moment to process that statement. At the time, worldwide media went into frenzy – the story like throwing a wedding cake into an industrial fan. Two years later and the Australian artist has returned from Berlin with Complete Without Burning. This highly provocative exhibition will divide the masses as it reflects on the lead-up to her 15 minutes of international fame. Complete Without Burning is free and opens on November 5 and runs till December 19 at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts.
The West Australian Symphony Orchestra is inviting Perth patrons to relax down at the Perth esplanade and enjoy the free Symphony in the City evening. Listen to Tchaikovsky’s explosive 1812 Overture in full force with the Swan Bells and hear the roar of the 7 Field Battery of the Australian Army Reserve Artillery. Veteran MC Guy Noble will be hosting the evening, while Warwick Potter will conduct WASO as they perform music by Verdi, Wagner, Mozart and more. Symphony in the City is free on December 11 from 7.30pm at the Perth esplanade.
OUTinPerth is a little hyper about the new Manic Arts event starting on Beaufort Street this month. Manic Arts is an exciting new outlet for emerging talent to promote their wares. Event coordinator and exhibiting artist Suzy Barlow said the event would be an afternoon thirst quencher. ‘A visual feast awaits from canvas to copper to street art, the weird and wonderful artistic talent of Citrus Knightshade, Anne Barnetson, Steve Grundy and Konni Starr will all be on display,’ she said. Check out the Manic Arts launch on Sunday November 7 from 2pm in the Velvet Room at the Flying Scotsman.
30 days; 30 strangers and a camera. Professional Perth photographer Julian Masters has been photographing one person a day since October 13 and will finish on November 11. For his 30/30 exhibition, Masters said the concept came to him from an interest in characters he passed in the street. ‘There’s always a great face to photograph and a story to listen to; from a homeless person to a librarian,’ he said. 30/30 will be showing in early February 2011 at Pop Studios in Leederville. In the meantime, follow Masters on his website www.julianmasters.com.au/jm-projects/
