The hottest Biennale yet

The 24^th Sydney Biennale is underway, and, with a program that spans six venues, features almost 100 artists from up to 50 different countries, and covers a broad range of innovative styles, this edition will shine as brightly as its Ten Thousand Suns title suggests. 

Making it even more special, this is the 50^th year of the Sydney Biennale. This milestone auspiciously coincides with the opening of its centrepiece venue, White Bay Power Station. The monolithic ex-industrial site that has sat dormant for decades has been reinvigorated with an injection of funding, lots of love and imagination, and lots of callous-causing restoration work. 

With many of the original features left in place, White Bay itself is like an enormous found object art piece. Inside, it feels like an industrial cathedral, quiet and spacious, allowing for large scale works to be placed or hung and appreciated from many perspectives. Here you will find video, diorama, sculpture, and flat board installations that are cheeky, cute, political, poignant and simply beautiful. 

The UNSW Galleries is a modest space on the Art & Design campus. The artworks here are themed around culture and conflict with some particularly striking sculptures made from wooden and metallic repurposed materials.

Artspace in Woolloomooloo is another building that has been recently revamped. The exposed brick and heavy timber frame give it warmth and intimacy. Here, the display of sculptures, canvases, photographs and installations reflect on appropriated culture and colonialism, among other themes. 

At the Art Gallery of NSW a generous space has been give to Beinnale. Expect to find a range of genres and mediums — from photographs to sculptures to costumes and more — addressing issues around war, gender, materialism, identity. 

On the campus of Sydney University is Chau Chak Wing Museum which features a variety of works including photographs, canvases, sculptures that comment on resistance, sexuality, tradition meets innovation. 

The Museum of Contemporary Art is where you will find the large, colourful wall to floor installation made from a variety of materials including beads, kitchen and garden utensils, rattan sticks and ornaments. Never Walk in Anyone’s Shadow by Anne Samat has frequently been used as the hero image for this year’s Biennale. MCA’s exhibit also includes stunning digital works, posters and framed images. 

The internationally recognised Sydney Biennale is the largest contemporary art event of its kind in Australia. This year’s edition has been curated by esteemed artistic directors, Cosmin Costinaș and Inti Guerrero. 

Until June 10

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