Head On photo festival
With more than 50 exhibitions, artist talks, workshops and masterclasses , Sydney’s Head On photo festival presents an international slate of photographers and subjects. Festivities kick off with the announcement of the Head on award winners on 1 May at the festival hub, before a month-long program provides glimpses into the lives of breastfeeding mothers, share houses, dreams and jellyfish.
Head On photo festival launch, Sydney Lower Town Hall, 1 May, then venues citywide
On the trail of Genghis Khan
In 2004, adventurer Tim Cope set off to retrace the footsteps of Gengis Khan’s armies, travelling 10,000km on horseback from Mongolia to Hungary. Accompanied by his dog Tigon, he travelled for three years across the varied landscapes of Eurasia. His adventures took him from sub-zero terrain to scorching deserts, from battling thieves towelcoming locals who shared their stories and culture with him. In a special event, Cope shares his experiences of his epic journey and the making of his book and documentary.
On the trail of Genghis Khan: Tim Cope, Brisbane Powerhouse, 28 April
The Abdullah brothers in discussion
The voices of Western Australian artists are highlighted in the Art Gallery of Western Australia’s new series WA Focus, launching with an exhibition by artist brothers Abdul-Rahman Abdullah and Abdul Abdullah. The joint show explores the similarities and differences in their practices, including how cultural identity, memory, family narratives and events such as 9/11 have shaped the ways they respond to the world around them.
WA Focus: Abdul-Rahman Abdullah and Abdul Abdullah, Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth, 2 May
Skipping Girl Vinegar
Fresh from a US tour, Melbourne indie band Skipping Girl Vinegar return to their hometown to launch new album The Great Wave. While explosive sonic layers and uplifting choruses are the trademark of their new sound, but below the surface of the sing-along songs is the moving story of a cancer diagnosis: from heartbreak to hope and the road to recovery.
Skipping Girl Vinegar, Arts Centre Melbourne, 2 May
Luminous Flux
The work of two contemporary dance artists comes together in a spectacular double bill that explores the theme of light. Before her tragic death in 2007, choreographer Tanja Liedtke investigated the contrast and balance of darkness and light in her work Enter Twilight. Similarly, Byron Perry’s performance Light Entertainment plays with the multiple ways in which light can be expressed in performance.
Luminous Flux, Monash University, Melbourne, 2 and 3 May, then Upwey and Gosford
