Sydney Biennale 2016

Xu Zhen - Eternity
​Produced by MadeIn Company
Photo: Dave Hickson

Like the feeling of coming across a collection of ancient greek sculptures in your uncles garage - seeing Xu Zhen's work in the Sydney Biennale, is that sort of surprise. The unexpected pleasure of contrast; strange context and a clash of cultures, creates a contemporary sculptural work that is skillfully executed.

Xu Zhen's work, Eternity, comprises "...sculptural forms appropriated from the Eastern Pediment of the Parthenon and ancient Chinese Buddhist traditions that have been fused together, creating a hybrid eastern-western monument. Xu Zhen creates a space for the reinterpretation of disparate cultures and religions, and an opportunity for dialogue about the way existing language structures, philosophies, realities and belief systems are merged and repurposed in an increasingly global civilisation influenced by rapidly developing technology." (Biennale artist info)

This was the stand out artwork on Cockatoo Island for the Biennale this year. In other venues there are gems, but Xu Zhen's reinforced concrete series is fantastic.
I only had a day to check out three of the Biennale locations, but with about eight venues hosting the Biennale, two or three days would be better.
The Biennale is running until June 5,  2016 
https://www.biennaleofsydney.com.au/20bos/artists/xu-zhen/
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