The Blue Mountains Cultural Centre will host a groundbreaking environmental art exhibition encouraging viewers to be the change they want to see in their own backyard.
Disruptor: for all that matters is the third exhibition presented in a series of projects stimulated by observable changes within Blue Mountains ecosystems, on exhibition at the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre from 3 August to 6 October.
Featuring new work by fifteen local artists, the exhibition responds to environmental concerns by examining ecologically significant Blue Mountains biospheres. Disruptor's opening night, on Friday 2 August from 6pm, will feature music performances by Jon Flood and a performance piece by Scott Marr.
Exhibiting artists include Rani Brown, Jon Flood, Caroline Giniunas, Emma Magenta, Scott Marr, Chia Moan, Justin Morrissey, Ann Niddrie, Manu Prigioni & Hannah Axelton & Eli Pilko, Kate Reid, Uncle Chris Tobin, Cheryle Yin Lo, Fiona Vaughan, Freedom Wilson, and Wendy Tsai.
In addition to the exhibition, there will be a program of artist talks and workshops to engage and educate.
The Disruptor Creative Forum, to be held on Saturday 10 August from 10am to 3.30pm will feature a discussion by keynote speaker and exhibiting artist Uncle Chris Tobin. Tobin's artwork Terms of Occupation, examines the destructive environmental outcomes of enforced colonisation, and insightfully sets out the terms of occupation needed to maintain healthy Country.
Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill said: "Blue Mountains City Council is proud to facilitate this exhibition as we recognise that the arts are a driver for introspection, societal movements, stewardship, and meaningful change.
"As a part of our commitment to planetary health and environment, Blue Mountains City Council, through the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, has committed to programming a planetary health themed exhibition biennially."
Disruptor: for all that matters has been co-curated by two Blue Mountains artists, Freedom Wilson and Justin Morrissey, who also feature in this major gallery exhibition.
Freedom's work has been born from many hours spent at the Blue Mountains Wild Plant Rescue Service. Weekly drawing sessions there have at the plant rescue has enabled a reimagining of cleared landscapes, and hope for flourishing plantscapes of the future.
Participating artist Ann Niddrie's work centres on the hanging swamp surrounding Centennial Pass. Glimpses of an Upland Swamp, uses a combination of digital imagery, watercolour, repurposed objects and reconstituted weeds to draw attention to the loss of natural Australian ecosystems when overrun by weeds fed on phosphorus rich backyard runoff.
Participating artist Emma Magenta invites visitors to engage fully with each artwork in the exhibition, learn the story behind the work and immerse themselves in the varied biosystems that are present in the Blue Mountains.
"The inclusion of 15 Blue Mountains artists, all with radically diverse practices, is a great call out for new ways of re-imaging our way towards a better future for our beloved Earth," she said.
Blue Mountains Cultural Centre is located on the top floor of 30 Parke Street and is accessible by pedestrians from Katoomba Street with free parking at the ground level. Learn more at bluemountainsculturalcentre.com.au
Left image: Eli Pilko, Manu Prigioni & Hannah Axelsen from Farm it Forward. Photo: Taku Kjelgaard.
Right image: Chris Tobin, Govetts Leap. Photo: Taku Kjelgaard
