With lovely mild weather forecasted, Lorne’s coastal setting will be the perfect backdrop for a weekend of immersive, thought-provoking experiences.
During the month of March, Lorne Sculpture Biennale 2025 presents a series of sixteen new site-responsive artworks from established and emerging artists, to explore how contemporary art can respond to, articulate, and augment our experience of place.
Its curatorial theme of STRATA derives from the iconic geology of Gadubanud Country—the stratified landscape of the Great Ocean Road serves as an analogy for one place being many places, layered physically and experientially through time, culture, and species.
Lorne Sculpture Biennale 2025
- When: 1-30 March
- Where: Across 16 precincts
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.
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Kicking off the action on Saturday is a unique participatory art experience hosted by Kerrie Polliness from 11am to 6pm. Visitors are invited to get involved in the creation of a ‘tidal drawing’ on the beach. Using simple tools and the natural flow of the tides, this large-scale artwork will evolve throughout the day, giving participants a chance to actively contribute to the work as the landscape changes with the waves.
Later in the afternoon, at 4pm, Edwina Stevens will sonically activate Carly Fischer’s When you strip everything away, it’s just you looking out (Site 9), a captivating sculptural installation. Through a performative engagement, the metal components of Fischer’s sculpture will be transformed into resonant acoustic bodies using surface transducers. The experience offers an immersive blend of sound and art that invites participants to deeply engage with the sculpture. Carly Fischer will also give a talk ahead of the event, providing further insight into her creative process and the concept behind her installation.
As the night falls, the performances continue at 8pm with DarkQuiet’s nocturnal site walk at Site 2. Using red head torches, the artists will guide attendees through a sensory exploration of their artwork, leading them into the surrounding environment to experience its subtle nuances in the dark. This quiet, meditative walk will highlight the sensory aspects of the landscape, inviting reflection on the way we engage with the world around us.
On Sunday, the Sculpture Plus events pick up again at 10:30am with Lucy Allinson’s soundwalk from Site 14. During this walk, participants will explore the acoustic ecology of Lorne, focusing on listening, noise pollution, and the liminal soundscapes of the area. The walk will journey to the Erskine River Rapids before returning to Allinson’s sound installation at Site 14, where participants can further immerse themselves in the sonic atmosphere.
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The day wraps up at 2pm with a performance of Body Weather by Gretel Taylor at the Erskine River Swing Bridge. This workshop investigates the intersection of bodies and environments, offering a unique exploration of physical presence and the ways in which we relate to our surroundings. Suitable for artists and anyone interested in exploring the connections between body and place, this performance is sure to be a highlight of the weekend.
For those looking to explore more, Studio Forest is hosting workshops every Wednesday from 10am to 12pm at Site C, providing an opportunity to engage with the art-making process in a hands-on way.
Throughout the weekend, visitors can also explore the Sculpture Trail, with all artworks available for sale. The Small Sculpture Exhibition at the Lorne Community Connect building will be open on weekends from 10am to 4pm and weekdays from 1pm to 4pm, offering a selection of smaller works for purchase.
For those who want to take home a piece of the event, the beautiful biennale catalogue is available for just $20. This photographic record of the event is the perfect way to remember the weekend’s immersive experiences.
With five sensory-driven events packed into one weekend, the Lorne Sculpture Biennale’s Sculpture Plus program is set to offer a rich, engaging, and creative experience for all. Don’t miss the chance to experience contemporary art like never before in the stunning setting of Lorne.
