Happy New Year (again)
Chinese New Year celebrations for the year of the sheep get under way across the country and some of the biggest events will take place in Sydney. While the annual Twilight Parade and the Dragon Races will be as popular as ever, one of the highlights is sure to be the spectacular Lanterns of the Terracotta Warriors, created by Chinese artist Xia Nan for the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, and on site at Dawes Point for a limited time.
Chinese New Year celebrations take place across the country in February, with Sydney festivities kicking off on 13 February
Promises, promises
A seal balancing a baby grand on its nose. An elephant headbutting the ground. A buffalo in full charge atop a piano. New Zealand sculptor Michael Parekowhai juggles humour, history and pop culture references in his work. Now Queensland’s Gallery of Modern Art will host his first major solo exhibition, featuring many of his best-known pieces and some intriguing new work.
Michael Parekowhai: The Promised Land is at Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art from 28 March until 21 June
The world at war
For many Australians, the local cinema was their primary news source during the first world war. As global commemorations continue, Melbourne’s Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) steps back in time with a recreation of the local picture palace and a program of shorts, advertisements, newsreels, propaganda and feature films like Alfred Rolfe’s The Hero of the Dardanelles (1915) that were created to encourage recruitment.
War Pictures: Australians at the Cinema 1914-1918 is at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Melbourne from 10 March until 12 July
Human Touch
What’s the power of touch? When the Singaporean government denied drug smuggler Van Tuong Nguyen a final embrace from his mother before his execution, it demonstrated just how important it can be. The heartbreaking incident was part of the inspiration for Australian playwright Suzie Miller’s new play Caress/Ache, which will have its world premiere at Sydney’s Griffin Theatre next month.
Caress/Acre opens at Griffin theatre, Sydney, from 27 February until 11 April
Get your groove on
The Preatures, Flight Facilities and Charlie XCX are going country, as part of the lineup for this year’s Groovin the Moo. The much loved festival takes the music to the regional masses for a day of fun in the fields. Other acts on the bill include Ball Park Music, The Hilltop Hoods, Hermitude, Meg Mac and San Cisco.
Groovin the Moo begins in Oakbank on 25 April, before touring to Bunbury, Bendigo, Canberra, Maitland and Townsville. Tickets on sale from 3 February
