SYDNEY ARTISTS TAKE ON DARWIN

What does Darwin look like through a Sydneysider’s eyes? Six artists from ‘Down South’ are behind a new exhibition that investigates that very question.

In June last year, six artists from Sydney made a trip up to Darwin to meet with local artists, arts organisations and curators. North is the exhibition inspired by the ideas that were ignited during the visit.

Exhibition co-producer and exhibiting artist Harriet Body instigated the project: “I grew up in Darwin and feel a really strong connection to my hometown,” she says. “Although I’ve lived in Sydney for the past 12 years, I still identify as a Darwinian. I wanted to see what would what would happen if I collided my Sydney world with my Darwin world.”

“The artists who came to Darwin last year work in varying media and each responded to their experience of Darwin very differently, so as a result we have a wide range artworks exhibited - from video, installation, painting and sound-based work,” Body says.

One of the artworks in North features recorded interviews with people who have moved up to Darwin, drawing out the reasons why these people chose to make the city home. Another artwork covers a ‘country rap’ song by local performer Mick Denigan (of Mick's Whips fame).
The artist behind the Mick Denigan cover is Siân McIntyre, “When we visited Darwin last year I was lucky enough to catch one of Mick’s performances at Mindil Beach Markets. To me, Mick symbolised the archetypal Darwinian character and both the content of his songs and his performance inspired me to reinterpret his material in a context more familiar to me.”

North is part of the SYD/DRW Project, an ongoing venture which aims to foster creative collaborations between Sydney and Darwin-based organisations and artists.

North opens on Friday at the Northern Centre for Contemporary Art in Parap at 6pm.

AT: NCCA, Parap

WHEN: Fri 15 May, 6pm-8pm

INFO: http://syddrwproject.tumblr.com/post/88429310043/the-syd-drw-project