Past exhibitions

Mella Jaarsma Dogwalk 2015-16, leather, stuffed cow and goat feet. Multi-channel video. Courtesy of the artist and Arndt Fine Art. Photo: Mie Cornoedus

Held every two years, the Biennale of Sydney is Australia’s much-anticipated major contemporary art event.

Curated by Stephanie Rosenthal, the 20th Biennale of Sydney focuses on how the common distinction between the virtual and the physical has become ever more elusive. The exhibition is structured around thematic clusters with each participating venue designated as a transient home for particular constellations of thought – the Art Gallery of NSW will be transformed into the Embassy of Spirits.

Artists exhibiting at the Gallery explore the intersections between the spiritual and the philosophical. Many works are concerned with ritual, whether personal or religious, while others explore how science, nature and spirituality relate to power structures and have been redeployed for other purposes. The artists include Johanna Calle, Sheila Hicks, Mella Jaarsma, Jumana Manna, Dane Mitchell, Sudarshan Shetty, Taro Shinoda, Rodel Tapaya, Yin-ju Chen and Nyapanyapa Yunupingu.

The 20th edition of the Biennale marks 40 years of continuous association with the Art Gallery of NSW. In addition to the Gallery, the exhibition takes place at a variety of venues across Sydney.