Artbar: Liner Notes at MCA

Step into the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) after dark for Artbar: Liner Notes, the latest in the gallery’s series of exclusive after-hours events. This time around it’s curated by Bundjalung artist, photographer, musician and tattooer Shaun Daniel Allen (Shal), whose artistic practice looks at community and connection.

A one-night-only event, Artbar transforms the museum into a dynamic space where art, music and performance collide. Explore MCA in a whole new light as the building comes alive with installations, live music and performance across four levels.

A DIY ethos (gleaned from the punk and hardcore scene) and connection to Country are at the centre of Allen’s approach to art-making. His Artbar event is a bona fide celebration of subcultures, where diverse creative expressions – from the hum of tattoo machines to spoken word and instrumental improvisation – collectively set the tone for the night. Casting a light on the connections and contrasts between different reactive communities, Artbar: Liner Notes fuses the familiar buzz of a pub scene with unexpected artistic explorations from a range of creative communities.

Expect to see some of Allen’s own textile work, alongside a spoken word performance by rapper Nooky, film screenings of Non dance performance, and tattooer Sophia Baughan. On the music line-up are rapper Nooky, former The Riptides frontman and guitarist Mark Callaghan, multi-instrumentalist Jono Ma, local duo Beth and Blue, and DJ Edward Woodley among many others.

Limited first-release tickets are on sale now. Browse the program and buy your tickets at mca.com.au. This event is 18-plus only. MCA members receive 15 per cent off.

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