Five great talks by five great artists

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Time alone with art

I don’t know about you, but the temporal markers upon which I ordinarily rely – minutes and hours, weekdays and weekends – have now completely dissolved. Life is no longer segmented, organised, comprehended and ritualised according to these structures.

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Under the stars

Navigate the ways the night skies connect us across diverse cultures and thousands of years, as curators Cara Pinchbeck and Jackie Dunn introduce the exhibition ‘Under the stars’.

Filmed on Gadigal land in the temporarily closed Art Gallery of New South Wales and narrated from the curators’ homes on Gayamaygal and Gadigal Country, this virtual visit gives a glimpse into an exhibition that explores stargazing and mapping in works by Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists who offer a deep understanding of our place in the universe – no matter what stars are above us.

#TogetherInArt

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Grant Mudford, 'Woolloomooloo', 1973. Art Gallery of New South Wales, Gift of the artist 1985 © Grant Mudford

Silent city

We often talk about the city as if it were an organism. Perhaps that’s why scenes of empty streets – like the ones in this Together In Art Pocket Exhibition – seem so shocking.

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Joan Ross

Artist Joan Ross is known for her bold and thought-provoking work, including the 20m-long hoarding commission for our Sydney Modern Project site.

Filmed in self-isolation from her Bondi studio on Eora Country, she speaks about her creative process, the vision behind her Sydney Modern mural, and the art that has changed the way she sees the world.

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Loss and renewal

Arthur Streeton’s 'Passing showers’ seems an apposite painting for our moment - a scene that celebrates the enduring natural world, with every moment being succeeded by another, of rain passing and life renewed.

Lord Frederic Leighton, 'An athlete wrestling with a python', 1888-1891. Art Gallery of New South Wales, gift of John Schaeffer AO 2017. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Let’s get physical

Need some inspiration to break a sweat without breaking isolation? Our fitness guide will have you beefcaking with the best in no time.

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Wang Zhen, 'Nine years facing the wall', late 1800s-early 1900s. Art Gallery of NSW, purchased 1989

Think you’ve been staring at the walls for too long? Try nine years.

That, according to legend, is how long the Buddhist deity Bodhidharma stared at a blank wall before achieving Enlightenment. And Bodhidharma is therefore the perfect ambassador for this week’s offerings on #TogetherInArt, where we’ll be exploring persistence, resilience, resistance and the art of doing it tough. We love Bodhidharma’s bushy-browed stubbornness, his wild hair (no sneaking off for a trim when you're on the path to Enlightenment), and his profoundly earthbound bulk. When you find yourself pining for that wide world beyond iso, think of the words of the poem he regards: 'Nine years facing the wall, Shadow impressed on stone; To move is not so good As it is to be stationary.'

Julian Rosefeldt, 'Manifesto', 2014-2015. Art Gallery of New South Wales, Mervyn Horton Bequest Fund 2013 © Julian Rosefeldt/VG Bild-Kunst. Licensed by Copyright Agency

Teachers rule

As students and parents tackle home schooling, this Together In Art Pocket Exhibition is a heartfelt thank you to teachers.

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Joy ride in a TARDIS

I’ve installed Botticelli, da Vinci, Warhol, Kandinsky, a few Caravaggios, Turners too. I’ve also, somehow, been playing drums in some of my favourite bands, including Radio Birdman, the Celibate Rifles and the Hoodoo Gurus. This playlist is mostly locals from whom I am grateful to have received opportunities and inspiration.

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How to make a monster with Ramesh and Santi

Bring a monster to life with the latest in our ongoing series of art classes! From his Rydalmere studio on Burramattagal Country, artist Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran collaborates with Santi to bring you a step-by-step guide for sculpting your own fantastical human-animal hybrid.

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Evelyn Chapman, 'Old trench, French battlefield', 1919. Art Gallery of New South Wales, gift of the artist's daughter Pamela Thalben-Ball 1976 © Estate of the artist

Hope lies beyond the battlefield

As we commemorate Anzac Day, this Together In Art Pocket Exhibition presents the work of Evelyn Chapman, the first Australian female artist to visit the battlefields of WWI.

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Finding new forms of beauty and healing

Remember when you were 18? ARTEXPRESS gives us an opportunity, indeed challenges us, to learn and think about the issues that face young adults today, through works by student artists that are full of vibrancy and energy.