Tickets for the 10th Ballarat International Foto Biennale can now be snapped up for the major event taking place.
Returning for its 10th year, the bi-annual Ballarat International Foto Biennale will once again turn the regional Victorian city of Ballarat into a temporary cultural archive, boasting an artefact repository of global significance from 26 August to 22 October 2023, with tickets now on sale.
Featuring more than 2000 breathtaking photographic works across galleries to laneways, city streets to businesses, and historic buildings, the eight-week-long event includes some of the world’s biggest names in photography, capturing the imagination of art-lovers and culture crusaders around the country.
Keep up with the latest in regional art and local events here.
This year’s Festival theme is The Real Thing – the title of Russell Morris’ 1969 six-minute surround-sounding musical trip which was fresh to ears at the time. Like Morris’ song, the 10th edition of this year’s Foto Biennale will be all-encompassing, embracing the viewer in an all-immersive experience.
CEO of Ballarat International Foto Biennale Vanessa Gerrans described this year’s event as a moment of reflection; an event that encourages visitors to question and decipher, and above all else, explore.
“We have reached far and wide into all corners of the world to bring together the greatest collection of photographs that have documented our generation. It’s up to the viewer to have an opinion as to what is real and what is not. This event encourages curiosity, and we invite all to experience the city of Ballarat through a different lens,” said Vanessa.
Exclusive to the Ballarat International Foto Biennale is the world premiere of People Power – Platon where audiences are encouraged to get up close with portraits taken by New York’s renowned Platon of headline makers and shakers of today.
People Power – Platon exhibition to make world premiere at Ballarat International Foto Biennale
The work of internationally celebrated Indian street photographer Vineet Vohra will be highlighted in an in-depth display of the popular documentary-style photographer’s most important works. Considered one of the most influential street photographers of his generation, Vohra will be holding very limited intimate workshops studying the streets and style of Ballarat.
Also celebrating street style is Instant Warhol – 59 original Polaroids taken by Andy Warhol capturing people, parties and pop culture of the 1970s and ‘80s.
The Ballarat International Foto Biennale is filled with Australian premieres include first-time exhibitions from international photographers Yvonne Todd (NZ) and Erik Johansson (Sweden), plus world first exhibitions from Stephen Dupont with Fucked Up Fotos, Michael Jalaru Torres with Vessel, Colleen Raven Strangways’ UV Songlines: Illuminating ancestral roots and the Australian exclusive of the Michael Kantor Portrait Prize.
Following on from the success of his Sydney performance, acclaimed artist Dr Christian Thompson brings his awe-inspiring live reimagining of Recital to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute and emboldening the quirky corners and facade of Ballarat, Lisa Roet’s 9 metre-high Golden Monkey will encourage visitors to look up and around the stunning Goldfields city and Kate Ballis’ Portals to Atlantis will take commuters to new worlds at the Ballarat Railway Station.
Ballarat’s beautiful galleries, historic buildings, laneways and iconic street scapes are the core of this major event which encourages art-lovers to explore the city and experience Ballarat through a new lens.
A comprehensive array of programs is available from workshops to walking tours, conversations and classes, each complimenting the event and celebrating the photographers who have captured our lives, hearts and headlines.
Ballarat International Foto Biennale is on from 26 August to 22 October 2023 in Ballarat, Victoria approximately 90 minutes from Melbourne. Tickets available from Saturday 15 July. For further information and to view the full program visit ballaratfoto.org.
