Art that’s right down your alley

Sydney city’s back alleys will become artistic havens this October for the upcoming Art & About festival.

The Laneways By George! Hidden Networks program, running from October until early January, will see eight CBD alleyways transformed into vibrant domains of city life.

Installations range from a canopy of singing birdcages, a prosthetic skin with its heartbeat pulsing through a laneway, to a pop-up kitchen and nightclub, and even a forest in the heart of the city.

“The unforeseen, unexpected use of these laneways within the planned city centre might actually be the key to its future success, defining a new role for the CBD,” said Dr Steffen Lehman, the curator and organiser of the program.

Dr Lehmann began the program after two reports commissioned by the City of Sydney highlighted the need to revitalise Sydney’s less conspicuous streets, and said he was amazed at some of the ideas this year.

“I am extremely pleased with the quality of work. After having curated interdisciplinary projects in public spaces in Berlin and other cities, this is outstanding,” he said.

The concepts are collaborative, using skills from a wide range of fields, and look at key issues affecting the city, like climate change and continuous urban expansion.

One installation, ‘7 Metre Bar’, was designed by Sydney artist Richard Goodwin, digital gaming designer Adrian MacGregor and landscape architect Russell Lowe.

The project looks at the impact of climate change on the city by emulating a disastrous weather event using gaming technology and sinister architectural designs.

Mr Goodwin said that the program was a great opportunity to bring something new to the city.

“A lot of fun can be had just allowing people to have parties and gatherings in unusual and exciting places, and this is a great way to do that,” he said.

Art & About runs from October 1 to 25 and is produced by the City of Sydney.

by Paul Farrell