From December 1-17 the fourth edition of Mapping Melbourne will unfold across the city in a celebration of our unique Asian Australian identity and international creative connections. Transforming spaces with a series of free multi-art form events and exhibitions the festival will profile established and emerging artists from across China, Indonesia, Singapore, Australia, India, Thailand, Japan, Vietnam and Malaysia.
Mapping Melbourne is a platform for strengthening arts networks between contemporary independent artists across the Asian region, building connections and establishing collaborative ongoing relationships, and presenting challenging work. We need to strengthen Australia’s deep and broad relationships across the region at every level. These links are social and cultural as much as they are political and economic. Improving people-to-people links can unlock large economic and social gains. Art enables us to learn about each other in creative and expressive ways that contributes significantly to greater understanding and respect for each other.
Program Details
2-15 December
Launch: Tuesday 1 December 6pm-8pm
FREE
Sonia Sarangi’s photographic journey, mapping the humble archetype of the Indian restaurant and the evolution of the Indian diaspora in Melbourne.
@ Magnet Galleries Melbourne, Level 2, 640 Bourke St
MOYI: INK ART (live art and music)
Friday 2 December, 7pm-9pm
FREE
Chinese ink art and music traditions fuse with contemporary Melbourne in a stunning presentation featuring Zhang Qiang, Huang Yan & Wang Xiaoming (China), Mindy Meng Wang & Peter Knight (Australia).
@ Deakin Edge, Federation Square
MINI MAPPING: Symphony of Boxes (Installation)
3-8 December
FREE
Over 800 budding artists from New Star Arts School have created work inspired by Pop Art expressing everyday life, their dreams, joys and inspirations and being young Melburnians.
@ Fracture Gallery, Atrium Federation Square, access via Flinders St
CHINESE AUSTRALIAN FILM SCREENING
Saturday 3 December, 1pm-4pm
FREE
An exciting selection of films from Australia and China will be presented in collaboration with RMIT and Shanghai Theatre
Academy.
@ RMIT Building 80, L4, Room 11, 445 Swanston St
WHAT THE FLUX? (Video art projection)
5 December – 1 January, after dark
FREE
A mixed media collaboration between Mimi Leung (Victoria) and Kemal Ezedine (Bali) depicting, the constant flux of culture, with parts dying and being reborn with every new generation.
@ Wall of Art, Chin Chin Restaurant, 125 Flinders Ln
SpontaneiTEA: Pop Up Tea Room series
Monday 5 December & 12 December, 4pm-8pm
FREE
Accomplished performance artist Yumi Umiumare invokes the Japanese notion of ‘ma’ or ‘active pause’ to explore deep presence in spaces that can be simultaneously reflective and provocative. Enter the dreamlike spaceand get lost in the SpontaneiTEA.
@ Horse Bazaar, 397 Little Lonsdale
Wednesday 7 – Friday 16 December
Tuesday to Thursday from 11am-5pm, Friday from 11am-7pm, Saturday from 12pm-4pm
FREE
An exhibition of works from emerging Indonesian artists exemplifying the dynamism of contemporary art beyond Baliseering, or in present-day expression, beyond “tourist art” Bali is famously known for internationally.
@ fortyfivedownstairs. 45 Flinders Ln
Wednesday 7 December, 6pm-8pm
FREE
Creating contemporary art in the Asia Pacific region An unique opportunity to hear from the artists presenting work in the Crossing: Beyond Baliseering exhibition.
@ Yasuko Hiraoka Myer Room, Sidney Myer Asia Centre, Cnr Swanston St & Monash Rd, The University of Melbourne
Saturday 10 December, 10am-11.30am
FREE
An exploration of alternate realities through contemporary Thai performance – an itinerant site specific work by SILP Productions which will travel along one of Melbourne’s most iconic streets.
@ Swanston St (beginning at State Library of Victoria)
9 & 10 December, 8.30pm-9.15pm
FREE
Groundbreaking Singaporean dance company Arts Fission collaborates with Melbourne-based dance artist/choreographer
Victoria Chiu, conjuring up surreal characters from the realm of mythology.
@ Arts Centre Melbourne Lawn, 100 St Kilda Rd
Saturday 10 December, 6pm-8.30pm
FREE
Budding local writers will perform new poetry and spoken word pieces, the culmination of an eight week workshop series
exploring the capacity to represent diverse cultures, faiths and identities.
@ The Channel, Arts Centre Melbourne, 100 St Kilda Rd
Friday 16 December, 12pm-1pm
FREE
Classical music ensemble, Taste of India and independent dancers from newly established artists run Studio J, come together to present a new perspective on Indian traditions through a Melbourne lens.
@ Old Treasury Building, 20 Spring Street
Saturday 17 December, 7.30pm-11pm
FREE
Bringing together the local street dance community and the Foreign Brother’s eclectic rhythm section, The CoreTet for a dance cipher seen through the eras of the Jazz, Funk and Hip Hop.
@ The Toff in Town, 252 Swanston St