Art Works Season 2, Episode 36: Maria Tran, Night Songs, Unpopular

1

Summer Arts Festivals, Art-Washing

We head to three of Australia's summer arts festivals in Adelaide, Perth and Sydney, before we unpack the idea of 'art-washing': when organisations, individuals and even countries use art to distract from negative actions.

33 min

2

Dean Cross x Sidney Nolan, Eucalyptusdom

We meet Sidney Nolan by way of artist Dean Cross, visit Powerhouse Ultimo's exhibition Eucalyptusdom, as it interrogates colonial narratives, and find out about the playful self-portraits of textile artist Adrienne Doig.

28 min

3

Lorne Sculpture Biennale, Biennale of Sydney

Namila Benson explores the Lorne Sculpture Biennale, and Eloise Fuss the 23rd Biennale of Sydney. Daina Sgarioto explains how she got into hand-tufting and we discover the timely story of 91-year-old artist Tamara Bekier.

28 min

4

WOMADelaide, Alex Seton, Parvyn Singh

We stop by "world music" festival WOMADelaide, and an augmented reality exhibition in Melbourne. We meet artist Alex Seton, who makes sculptures out of marble, and Punjabi Australian musicians Parvyn and her father Dya Singh.

29 min

5

Marco Fusinato, MICF, Louise Coghill

We talk to Australia's representative at the Venice Biennale, Marco Fusinato; hear Aussie comedians talk politics; see Louise Coghill's photographs of the WA bushfires; and enter Frida Las Vegas's colourful "Frida-verse".

29 min

6

Bundanon, Aretha Brown x Emma Donovan

We visit the new Bundanon Art Museum plus Aretha Brown and Emma Donavan talk album covers. Graeme McCullough speaks to us about the disappearing art of signwriting and we explore the food and art exhibition, Simmer.

28 min

7

AQAL, David Quirk, Caitlin Yeo, Sky Song

We check out Somali Australian exhibition AQAL, and First Nations drone art event Sky Song. We unearth comedian David Quirk's unexpected day job, meet composer Caitlin Yeo, and learn about art therapy from Lissette Endacott.

25 min

8

National Indigenous Art Triennial

We head to the National Indigenous Art Triennial in Canberra, this year titled Ceremony. Then we meet artist and film photographer Sammy Hawker, and get the lowdown on the latest in film and TV from critic Keva York.

32 min

9

Safa El Samad, Gabbi Bolt, Jordan Benson

We chat to artists using novel methods and materials: Safa El Samad, who uses embroidery to upcycle clothes; and Jordan Benson, who works with stained glass. We also meet comedian Gabbi Bolt and Bigambul poet Uncle Wes Marne.

28 min

10

Venice Biennale, Deborah Kelly

We visit the Venice Biennale to catch up with Marco Fusinato, and Parrtjima in Alice Springs. Artist Deborah Kelly invites us to join her religion, and artist Christopher Zanko shares how he combines woodcarving and painting.

28 min

11

Tamworth Country Music Festival

We witness the power of art therapy with Lissette Endacott. Artist Katie West shares how she uses weaving techniques and found fabrics in her work.

29 min

12

Sydney Writers' Festival, Nils Frahm

Namila Benson meets some of Australia's leading authors at Sydney Writers' Festival: Chelsea Watego and Clementine Ford, Eliza Hull and Debra Keenahan, and Tony Birch. We also talk to Nils Frahm ahead of his Australian tour.

28 min

13

Australian Fashion Week, Dylan Mooney

We meet fashion designers Nicol & Ford, artist Dylan Mooney and recorder virtuoso Alicia Crossley. We catch new Tassie dance company Great Southern Dance's debut, before ABC Classic's Dan Golding shares his fave soundtracks.

30 min

14

Luca French, Amani Haydar, Cut N Polish

We catch up with Luca French, one of the youngest artists exhibiting at Vivid Sydney. Namila talks to Amani Haydar about art grief and healing. We walk through Cut N Polish, Carriageworks car boot art sale in Sydney.

27 min

15

Rising, Luke Arnold, Is Bach the best?

We head along to Melbourne's Rising festival. Zeina Thiboult shares the art of hair sculpture and Luke Arnold talks about creating change on social media through art. Richard Tognetti explains Bach's classical music mastery.

27 min

16

Sampa The Great, Reality to Screen

Sampa The Great shares how returning from her home in Zambia has guided her music. We get an in depth look into 'Still Lives' at Rising Festival. Ben Law and Vanessa Alexander unpack how filmmakers depict reality on screen.

29 min

17

NAIDOC Week: Dylan Mooney, Eucalyptusdom

We flash back to some great First Nations stories. Meet Dylan Mooney and see Eucalyptusdom. Emma Donovan and Aretha Brown do Art of the Cover. We meet Katie West, and finish at the National Indigenous Art Triennial.

31 min

18

The Regions: Christopher Zanko, Bundanon

We revisit some great stories from the regions. Meet artist Christopher Zanko, photographer Sammy Hawker and sign-writer Graeme McCullough. Plus, we head to Bundanon Art Museum and Parrtjima festival in the Red Centre.

30 min

19

The Burning, Naomi Hobson, Manifesto

We visit Dark Mofo to watch Alex Podger combine art, fire and ritual; Rising for a new work of dance and drums; and Sydney to check out an intimate music venue; and look at Naomi Hobson's photos of young people in Cape York.

28 min

20

Brisbane Street Art Festival

We head to Brisbane Street Art Festival, and find out about Jess Ribeiro's day job. We talk to theatre group Second Echo Ensemble about their latest show Outside Boy, before Miles Brown teaches us how to play the theremin.

29 min

21

Back to Back Theatre, Soft Centre

We meet the award-winning Back to Back Theatre; slow fashion designer Noah Johnson; and Koori artist S.J Norman, who takes us through his language reclamation work. We also visit experimental art and music fest Soft Centre.

30 min

22

Arts Week: Looking for Alibrandi, Queer

It's Arts Week on Art Works! We check out a new stage adaptation of Looking for Alibrandi; head to Minjerribah to see Megan Cope build an oyster reef on Country; and explore National Gallery of Victoria's Queer exhibition.

30 min

23

Gay Hawkes, Tactical Space Lab

We meet 80-year-old artist and furniture maker Gay Hawkes, and learn how artists like Abdul Abdullah work at the nexus of art and tech. We head to Queensland for a film fest in the outback and the opening event of BLEACH*.

28 min

24

Blaze, Zahra Elham

Artist Kathryn Del Barton talks about her debut feature film Blaze; we meet the now-Australia-based Zahra Elman, the first woman to win Afghan Star; and Sarah L'Estrange unpacks the winner of this year's Miles Franklin Award.

29 min

25

Fangirls, National Poetry Month Gala

Hear from the creator of the Aussie musical about fandom that has fostered its own devotees; a Canberra coin designer; and amateur musicians who performed with the WASO, as well as poems from the National Poetry Month Gala.

28 min

26

Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

Learn how Sydney Theatre Company created their latest work of "cine-theatre"; how sheds have been turned into unique music venues; about the art underpinning freestyle football; and about Indian classical dance Bharatanatyam.

29 min

27

Anna Cordell, Whitefella Yella Tree

A fashion designer makes a suit for Joan as Policewoman. A First Nations play shows queer teen love during colonisation. An artist plays a piano that is on fire, before another invites people to cure their ailments with art.

28 min

28

Fiona Foley, COVID sonification

Namila heads to McClelland to meet Fiona Foley; a musician turned molecular biologist finds inspiration in the coronavirus genome; portraits of country pub patrons; and a visit to Broome Performing Arts Co.

30 min

29

ACMI, Somebody's Daughter, Fiona Hall

We visit Light at ACMI; meet graphic artist and activist Sam Wallman; go behind-the-scenes with Somebody's Daughter, the theatre company supporting women in and out of prison; plus, Fiona Hall & AJ King's MONA collaboration.

29 min

30

Brisbane Festival, Club Weld

Steph Tisdell visits Brisbane Festival; meets artist Olana Janfa; Club Weld and River City Voices collaborate; plus the Tennant Creek Brio.

30 min

31

Waru, Janice Wong, Nadurna, Ben Nguyen

We get a pint-sized perspective on Waru, Bangarra's new show for kids; learn more about Janice Wong's delicious art practice; meet Nadurna's Ryhia Dank; and visit restaurateur and art enthusiast Ben Nguyen.

26 min

32

Cyrano, William Barton, David Humphries

This week, Virginia Gay's Cyrano finally takes the stage; acclaimed virtuoso William Barton collaborates with his mum; we meet terrazzo master David Humphries; and explore a Handmade Universe at the State Library of Victoria.

30 min

33

Rodney Bell, Rooke Circus, Luke Whitten

Namila meets dancer Rodney Bell at disability arts festival Alter State; we experience Tasmania with Rooke Circus; art meets science at Tarrawarra; and sculptor Luke Whitten honours Country, melding old and new materials.

28 min

34

The Australian Ballet, Tasman Keith

The ballet basics explained; theatre designer Jonathon Oxlade shares insights into his craft; rapper Tasman Keith takes us home to Bowraville; and critic Keva York chats Korean cinema and true crime adaptations with Namila.

31 min

35

Bell Shakespeare, Gerwyn Davies, FUNPARK

This week, a Shakespearean classic gets a musical makeover; we meet painter Kurt Boseke and photographer and costume-maker Gerwyn Davies; and we head to Western Sydney's Mt Druitt for community arts festival FUNPARK.

30 min

36

Maria Tran, Night Songs, Unpopular

This week, musicians play the songs of the pied butcher bird at Liveworks Festival of Experimental Art; we meet martial arts movie star Maria Tran and calligrapher Gemma Black; and head to Unpopular at the Powerhouse Museum.

29 min

37

Bangarra, AI Art, Matt Hsu, Rose Riebel

This week, we go on Country in the Kimberley with Bangarra Dance Theatre; take a deep dive into AI Art; and meet neo-classical pianist Rose Riebel and experimental, multi-instrumentalist Matt Hsu and his Obscure Orchestra.

36 min