American artist Asad Raza’s new site-specific work, Absorption, is the 34th Kaldor Public Art Project.
2019 is a landmark year for Kaldor Public Art Projects as the initiative celebrates its 50th anniversary.
When he announced the artist’s participation, John Kaldor AO, director of Kaldor Public Art Projects said, “What Asad Raza will give us is what we have been trying to achieve for the last 50 years: projects that are ground-breaking.”
The project is the first time the New York-based artist has presented work in Australia.
Raza explained that his works can be described as “stages for encounters” and he hopes to mediate a “holistic experience” for audiences “that focuses on the live moment.”
To create Absorption, Raza worked with a range of local scientists and other researchers dealing with environmental issues, selected Australian artists, and a group of people that he calls “cultivators” who will activate the space. These include: scientists Alex McBratney and Stephen Cattle; and artists Daniel Boyd, Chun Yin Rainbow Chan, Megan Alice Clune, Dean Cross, Brian Fuata, Agatha Gothe-Snape, Jana Hawkins-Andersen, Khaled Sabsabi, and Ivey Wawn.
Raza described the role of these “cultivators” as operating at the nexus of performance, dance and labour.
“I’ll be present every day of the exhibition,” Raza added, “because an exhibition is an ongoing thing.”
At the announcement Sam Mostyn, chair of Carriageworks said, “This is the second time Carriageworks and Kaldor Public Art Projects have partnered on a major presentation for Sydney audiences, and we are thrilled to be working on this occasion with Asad Raza. Raza’s dynamic and collaborative project will extend across our community of visitors and engage our current studio artists. We look forward to presenting this major work at Carriageworks in May.”
Absorption: Kaldor Public Art Project 34
Asad Raza
The Clothing Store, Carriageworks
3—19 May
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