Mercury

Mercury (4.0/5)

Sydney Dance Company

Sydney Theatre

28th November 2009

(Choreography: Kenneth Kvarnstrom)

There was a Scandinavian feel to Kvarnstrom’s new work for SDC, an exploration of Mercury: Messenger, Liquid Metal and Planet. Mercury is true to its namesake in eloquence and the thievishness use of contemporary moves, more creative than innovative, whilst forgoing swiftness for liquid fluidity. The SDC troupe flowed through their moves with precision and strength, complimented by a simple set, lighting both subtle and dramatic and an excellently reproduced soundscape of predominantly electro-music.

System Building

Aphids and the New Music Network

CarriageWorks, Sydney.

23^rd November 2009

(Composer: Rosemary Joy, performers: Diego Espinosa, Eugene Ughetti)

12 minutes of intimate, miniature percussion served Teppanyaki style to an equally compact audience. A collection of timber, glass and metal sculptures inspired by performing arts venues quietly played, disassembled, reassembled and bathed in a soothing red light. At twelve minutes just the right length to be absorbing and warm. For something different, try this.

Concord

Concord (2.0/5)

The Australian Ballet

Opera Theatre, Sydney Opera House

21^st November 2009

(“Por Vos Muero”, Nacho Duato; “Scuola Di Ballo”, Alexei Ratmansky; Dyad 1929”, Wayne McGregor”)

Under-whelming triple bill. Por Vos Muero missed the high and lows implicit in the title “for thee I die”. Ballet school farce “Scuola Di Ballo” was clearly the strongest piece, well danced and well acted - a well choosen piece to off-set the depth of Por Vos Muero if the latter had had any character. Dyad, although new, was just dated and uninspiring with no flow or challenge. The AB can do much better.

Sculpture by the sea

Sculpture by the sea (3.5/5)
Bondi
10th November 2009
Delightful cliff top stroll amongst 114 eclectic sculptures on a beautifully sunny day. Something good, bad and extraordinary is certain from so many exhibits. For a bit of humour, De Felice’s play on familiar signage gives pause for thought and a wry smile (#1). Propato’s colourful flags “arte de las playas” stunningly ripple in a strong wind against a blue sky (#55). There’s lots to like – go a on a sunny day and enjoy.

Moon

Moon (3.5/5)

Dendy Opera Quays, Sydney

(Director: Duncan Jones, Cast: Sam Rockwell)

A genuine attempt at a thoughtful science fiction film rather than the usual scary monster/evil empire genre. This slow burning story of a one-man lunar mining station with a mystery really feels like the Moon and holds your attention throughout. Rockwell is excellent in both parts (I’ll say no more!).

From Earth to the Universe

From Earth to the Universe (4.0/5)

Powerhouse Museum, Sydney

24^th October 2009

The night sky is lost to us in the glow of streetlights and empty buildings; this stunning exhibition shows us what we are missing and more. The best of astrophotography from just a simple camera to the largest earth-based telescopes and to those in orbit. The colours and detail are stunning in giant enlargements of planets, stars, dust clouds and galaxies accompanied by modest, informative, descriptions.

Bibbenluke

Bibbenluke

Lucy Culliton

Ray Hughes Gallery, Sydney.

22^nd October 2009

Culliton shows great skill and detail in ninety-six traditional oil-based landscapes, a year of changing seasons at her Snowy Mountain’s property. Yet, there is little challenge and a monotonous sameness. Standing back, the tightly hung works form an unintended colourful, mosaic. Elsewhere the Gallery hangs interesting, contemporary, works from Australia and China in a variety of mediums. Organised by CamSoc, private viewing and lively dinner, the whole was much more than the main part.

Kaldor Public Arts Projects 1969-2009

Kaldor Public Arts Projects 1969-2009 (2.5/5)

Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney.

11^th October 2009

Kaldor’s sponsorship of public art is worthy and rewarding. This exhibit of plans, models and photographs from 19 installations fails to scale such highs, being neither artistic nor informative. Contrast this with Kaldor’s latest project – Tatzu Nishi’s War and peace and in between. Two familiar sculptures that for years have flanked the Gallery’s portico become intriguing centrepieces in Nishi’s lounge and bedroom built around each figure; challenging with a touch of humour, worthy public art.

This Kind of Ruckus

This Kind of Ruckus (1.5/5)
Version 1.0
CarriageWorks, Sydney.
12th September 2009

Power; people held in esteem or authority and their power over women that to often leads to misadventure or worse. Moments of humour, moments of reflection, though too many moments of awkwardness to really strike at a subject that cries out for hard-hitting social drama. By just touching but rarely exploring recent headlines, this piece is already dated. A worthy subject, worth more than this.

Swan Lake

Swan Lake (3.0/5)
Imperial Russian Ballet Company
State Theatre, Sydney
19th September 2009

A traditional interpretation of this classic ballet with the happy ending. It would have been a good night but for the appalling sound system that completely scrambled Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece.