"Biennale Opens Today!"
2000-05-26 until 2000-07-30
Biennale of Sydney
Sydney, , AU Australia

The Biennale of Sydney was created in 1973 as an international showcase for contemporary art. Conceived, invented and financially supported by Franco Belgiorno-Nettis, it grew out of the Transfield Art Prize for contemporary Australian art, an acquisitive prize which reached its peak in the 1960s. It operated for about a dozen years before Transfield decided to transform what was a local initiative into an international exhibition.

From the beginning of his association with contemporary art Belgiorno-Nettis aimed to encourage creativity, as well as change the attitudes of Australians towards recent art. He felt that the inventiveness in new art would energise the broader community and encourage innovation and creativity. The Biennale of Sydney, which he modelled on the successful Venice Biennale, was a way of opening up Australia to the world at a time when it remained relatively unknown. His aims were to encourage communication and dialogue as well as build links between Australia and other countries.

IMAGE:Paul McCarthy
Painter 1995
still from performance/installation
collection: Rubell Family Collection, Miami
photography: Karen & Damon McCarthy

See Paul McCarthy's work at: ARTSPACE

Related Links:

Indepth Arts Resources for Australia

Other Important Exhibitions in Australia