Now in its third year, Nite Art continues to power connections between Melbourne galleries, artists and audiences opening up late for a unique night art-walk event, inviting audiences to curate their own night and contribute to the cultural vibrancy of our city at night.
Part of a global shift happening in other art cities including Berlin, Hong Kong and Tokyo, Nite Art is changing the way people view and interact with art. Artists are finding new and innovative ways to engage with audiences, with participatory works and site-specific installations making up much of the impressive program.
Made up of three precincts – Central City, Melbourne University, and Arts Precinct including Federation Square – Nite Art recognises that art and culture is at the centre of our city, and creates a new conversation about Melbourne’s cultural identity via collaboration, connectivity and legacy.
Highlights of this year’s program include:
Fly By Night – Hamer Hall
Melinda Hetzel and Co will present a site-specific work weaving together dance, theatre and digital technology for a performative tour through Hamer Hall. Audiences are guided through the space by imagery accessed via an interactive, device-based map.
Flinders Lane Gallery
Artist interactions and live music will allow visitors to experience firsthand the creation of works: Melinda Schawel invites audiences to create their own layered paper-based artwork; Jon Eiseman begins work on a new sculptural piece, offering visitors an intimate experience of viewing the process behind his renowned bronze sculptures; and Josh Robbins begins work on one of his signature birds, inviting visitors to create their own blind contour drawing on paper sheets that drape the gallery walls.
Wayfarers by Paper Giant – Russell Street Substation
The Wayfarers project invites reflection on the merging of the technical and the social in the city. The Wayfarer object will be installed next to the audio-visual data it has recorded on a particular walk. Viewers are encouraged to walk the same path through the city to arrive at the Wayfarer, comparing their own embodied experience with that of the Wayfarer.
Nothing to Retain – Total House on Russell Street.
Artist Julia Weissenberg and curators Simone Hine and Kyle Weise present the site-specific work Nothing to Retain. The two-channel video slowly explores a temporary reconstruction of a building designed by pioneering modernist architect Mies van der Rohe that was never built. The play in the work between permanence and impermanence is particularly relevant to Total House and its current status at the centre of debates about architectural heritage. The historic carpark site was built in 1965 to accommodate the massive increase in car ownership post-World War II, and is one of Melbourne’s best examples of Japanese-inspired Brutalist architecture.
Light Speculation – Carlton Connect Initiative
Light Speculation offers a glimpse into the wonderment of light as a phenomenon, and prompts us to consider play as a source of discovery and innovation.
Late Night Hub / Remaking the world – Ian Potter Museum of Art
Julie Rrap’s exhibition, Remaking the world features a number of new works, including a video installation of sleeping artists, suspended from the ceiling like hanging bats. In addition, the Late-Night Hub at the Ian Potter Museum of Art, University of Melbourne will open until midnight with local band The Orbweavers performing live from 10.00pm.
Peter Callas – ACMI Mediatheque
One of Australia’s most distinguished electronic media artists, Peter Callas explores the relationships between cultural memory, history and the media in his works. With influences from Australia, Japan, New Guinea, Europe and the Americas, Callas’ colourful, textured and intricately crafted videos are insightful critiques on the formation of individual and national identity – 12 key works from ACMI’s permanent collection will be on display.
Screen Series
Video artworks will light up the night at Blindside ARI and the Chin Chin Wall of Art. Curated by Xanthe Dobbie and Anabelle Lacroix, Blindside’s Screen Series focuses on the potential of the object in works by five artists and collectives, while Taiwanese-born artist Roy Chu’s installation at Chin Chin explores notions of identity, family and nationality.
Nite Art 2015 takes place at various locations throughout Melbourne on Thursday 23 July: 6.00pm – 11.00pm. For more information, visit: www.niteart.com.au for details.
Image: Jon as the Birdman, Jon Eiseman