AGWA | Proximity 2015

proximity 2015

Since its inception in 2012, Proximity Festival have responded to the desire from artists and audiences to expand on the possibilities of what performance can be in Australia and have developed a unique platform for this work to happen that offers artists the chance to unite and explore the possibilities of this artform. Curated by Sarah Rowbottam and Kelli Mccluskey, this year’s festival unites twelve emerging and established artists who aren’t afraid to take risks in very intimate ways – Phillip Adams, Jo Bannon, Tom Blake, Leon Ewing, Jackson Eaton, Chloe Flockart, Caroline Garcia, Mish Grigor, Emily Parsons-Lord, Mei Saraswati, Brett Smith and Malcolm Whittaker.

For twelve days the Proximity Festival 2015 will take over the entire Art Gallery of Western Australia (AGNSW) from 28 October to 8 November for a series of exciting public events including experimental performances, intimate gallery tours, caffeine-fuelled discussions and workshops.

Proximity’s co-founders and curators, Kelli Mccluskey and Sarah Rowbottam discuss the significance of such an event and its impact on the audience:

“Our occupation of the Art Gallery of WA during the day has enabled us to consider ways in which live artists can impact on this iconic institution and its visitors. As we infiltrate the galleries, stairwells, boardrooms and rooftops, our artists are embracing the brutalist architecture and segmented geometry with warmth, intelligence and curiosity.

This year our artists are stargazing, re-mapping borders, immersing you in the sound of the wetlands, disappearing in cinematic imagination, snap chatting, sex talking, singing Whitney, colliding, confronting and romancing.”

Proximity 2015

Proximity’s PARTY FOR 1 opening event will be held on Saturday 31 October, with secret one-on-one performances, underworld experiences, party monsters, and a bloc party featuring some of Perth’s best local DJs. There will be Toastface Grillah treats and Volstead Union’s small batch cocktails to get the party started.

During the festival visitors can start their morning with lively discussions, collective actions and intimate gallery tours at the free public talks. Taking place across three mornings, a program of international and national speakers share their thoughts on the possibilities and implications of living artworks in public institutions, documenting intimacy and creating legacy for participatory work. Speakers include Brian Lobel (Artist and Engagement Fellow at UK’s Wellcome Trust UK), Sebastian Goldspink (Alaska Projects), Francis Barrett (Brown Council / Campbelltown Arts Centre), Nerida Dickinson (Critic/ Writer – Realtime, Artshub) and Proximity artists Mish Grigor and Jackson Eaton. For those interested in finding out what happens in a Proximity performance, make sure you join the Audience tours on Saturday 7 November to hear personal accounts of each work from our audience as they walk around the Proximity performance spaces.

For a full list of public programs visit proximityfestival.com

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