OUT/ABOUT: SYDNEY CONTEMPORARY 2013
If you can see the benefits of introducing art into your home but are unsure where to start then this is the week to take the leap into the deep, dark and sometimes scary unknown. Finally Sydney plays host to an appropriate art fair, one that reflects its rich cultural diversity and its vibrant contemporary arts scene. Operating in Carriageworks, the former Eveleigh railyards, Sydney Contemporary opened with the vernaissage this Thursday (19 Sept) evening and runs through until Sunday (22 Sept).
Apart from the obvious advantage of having ninety galleries under one roof, the fair is also a far less intimidating atmosphere for the novice. You can move in and out of several spaces in a couple of minutes (should the work not resonate with you) without fear of offending anyone. With a wonderful mix of the best Australian commercial galleries as well as many international spaces you can also get a taste for what is happening on the global scene. While some galleries will have a tightly curated show of one artist you will find that most galleries will opt for a mixed exhibition of works, this will allow you to get a real sense of whether the art is to your liking.
If you come across a work you connect with, talk to the gallery staff and find out whether they have other works available not on display, ask about the artist’s background and whether they may be exhibiting again soon, thus allowing you to see a larger body of work. If you then decide to take the plunge most galleries will allow you to place a work ‘on hold’ for a limited time while you continue to wander; generally you can just leave your mobile number and should another punter want to purchase the work the gallery will call you first.
If you still feel at a loss, Sydney Contemporary offers a great range of guided tours, workshops and lectures, however numbers for these events are limited so you will have to visit the Sydney Contemporary website and register your interest. Also keep your eye out for some of our earlier art features with Miranda Skoczek showing her beautiful works with the Edwina Corlette Gallery and Guy Maestri’s Hill End landscapes at Olsen Irwin.
Credits: Installation view, Sydney Contemporary 13.
Photographer: Gunther Hang
Words by: Katrina Arent
