Rememory: 25th Biennale of Sydney

Over three months, a string of venues around Sydney will be transformed as part of the 25th Biennale of Sydney. Curated by artistic director Hoor Al Qasimi, this year’s exhibition centres on the theme of “Rememory”, a term coined by author Toni Morrison to describe the intersection of memory and history. The term has prompted artists to reflect on their own roots and identities as well as the history and Indigenous communities of Sydney.

This year, the exhibition is spreading its reach with locations including the Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW), Campbelltown Arts Centre, the Chau Chak Wing Museum at the University of Sydney, Penrith Regional Gallery, Parramatta Artists’ Studio, Fairfield City Museum and Gallery and the refurbished White Bay Power Station.

Eighty-three artists and collectives are taking part, including 15 First Nations artists from around the world and Australian artists like Richard Bell, Dennis Golding and Nancy Yukuwal McDinny.

Highlights of the exhibition include Argentinian artist Gabriel Chaile’s massive hand-built clay oven, which will be used to cook Peruvian food at White Bay Power Station. White Bay is also home to the Memory Lane food markets, at which vendors will sell Palestinian, Lebanese, Italian and Chinese dishes.

At the AGNSW, an 80-square-metre floor canvas by the Ngurrara artists of WA’s Great Sandy Desert will form an arresting display. It’s the last time the canvas – originally designed for a native title demonstration in 1997 – will be displayed.

For more information, read our interview with First Nations curatorial fellow Bruce Johnson McLean – or check out the full program online.