RISING: 2023

Once a year, in winter, Melbourne is painted blue. This is the colour of the Rising festival. A festival of contemporary art that begins its work at sunset. In the evenings, blue lanterns appear on the streets, meaning SOMETHING is happening nearby - art exhibitions, performances, concerts, magic...

and snow... Spark by Daan Roosegaarde

and extraordinary creatures... Poncili by Pablo and Efrain Del Hierro

and love from Wu Tsang

It is practically impossible to visit all the places and performances that were shown during the festival. So, I chose the ones that were on the 'must-see' list. One of them was, undoubtedly, Euphoria by Julian Rosefeldt. A channel video with plenty of content situated right in the heart of the city - the Town Hall. Two hours in an immersive world of surround sound, intertwined with the rhythms of jazz, the innocence of a children's choir, and grand ideas that challenge capitalism's belief in ceaseless, euphoric consumption.

Another place that was on my wish list was the Ghetto Biennale. Thirteen artists occupied one of the cathedral buildings to showcase their works. It stands in contrast to their Haitian subculture against the global art world. Sculptures made from trash? An iconostasis crafted from tablets? An organum created from the packaging?