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| Murtala in Gelambang Raya |
It’s difficult to know why or where we are at in 2026 in a time of wars, inequality, racism, fascism, social injustice, environmental catastrophe and AI obliterating the need for human art.
With a veil of hope I had the privilege of working on Sydney Festival 2026 first with Jannawi Dance Clan on GARRIGARRANG BADU (Saltwater Freshwater) with Peta Strachan and Nigel Jamison presenting Dharug women’s stories for the first time at Sydney Opera House. Second show was SISA-SISA at Bankstown Arts Centre with the founders of Suara Dance (Alfira O’Sullivan and Murtala - Indonesia/Australia), a double bill on the difficulties of working as a woman in the arts (Jacek & Bisik - translating to Footsteps whispered) and Murtala’s biographical piece on the 2007 Aceh Tsunami (Gelambang Raya - Great wave).
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| Alfira O'Sullivan in Jacek & Bisik |
Festivals promote the image of fun and celebration but with restrictive budgets, meaning artists are losing money to make works for paying public. To make a 75min and two 30min works in five weeks means working too briefly to understand the depth or significance of what is being made. The value of art is in its sophistication and depth.. artists need around five to nine weeks to develop and present first works in progress, considering complex collaborative dynamics (that exist in any professional field), especially if its a first time encounter with large concepts. Making good work isn’t just about coming up with and making a good idea. It is weeks of debate and consideration of the myriad options which present themselves once concepts start to evolve. Then there is creative technique developed around the resources available. The quick realisation there is so much to learn and so little time.
Conscious not to neglect one’s body working overtime for the neccessity of art. Keep on moving, flowing.
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| Garrigarrang Badu - Jannawi Dance Clan |
SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2026
GARRIGARRANG BADU - https://www.sydneyfestival.org.au/events/garrigarrang-badu
SISA_SISA - JEJAK & BISIK / GELUMBANG RAYA - https://www.sydneyfestival.org.au/events/sisa-sisa