This year’s International Museum Day theme is Hyperconnected museums: New approaches, new publics. Our global network of connections becomes each day more complex, diverse and integrated. In the hyperconnected world of today, museums join the trend. Hyperconnectivity is a term invented in 2001 to design the multiple means of communication we have today, such as face-to-face contact, email, instant messaging, telephone or the Internet. It is impossible to understand the role of museums without taking into account all the connections they make. They are an inherent part of their local communities, their cultural landscape and their natural environment.
The International Council of Museums (ICOM) established International Museum Day in 1977 and it has since then become a worldwide event held on and around 18 May. The purpose is to raise awareness that “Museums are important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures, and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples.”
In the spirit of this celebration of hyper-connectivity, and as part of the Sydney Culture Network, we share our events around International Museum Day. We hope you can join us for these events and other cultural events happening around Sydney.
Australian Design Centre Events
Porosity Kabari
5 April – 23 May
Made from materials and craftsmanship sourced solely from the ‘Chor Bazaar’ (thieves market) and ‘Kabari Bazaars’ (junk markets) in Mumbai, India, the works in this exhibition are the result of an interdisciplinary, cross-cultural, collaborative project by Australian object designer Trent Jansen, Australian artist/architect Richard Goodwin and Indian design thinker Ishan Khosla.
Lessons in transformative objects with Professor Richard Goodwin
10 May, 6-8pm
Richard Goodwin’s practice explores Duchamp’s revelation of the ‘readymade’. How can something be something else? His work does not invent new shapes but instead appropriates objects with differing functions, combining them at different scales. Goodwin will present a lecture focusing on his experiences working on Porosity Kabari an interdisciplinary, cross-cultural, collaborative project in Mumbai alongside Australian object designer Trent Jansen and Indian design thinker Ishan Khosla.
Interpretations V: Paper (Cellulose)
5 April-23 May
Interpretations V explores the material limits of paper (cellulose) – a challenging but incredibly rich material. Each designer has cut, folded, formed, stitched, moulded (as pulp) or laminated paper, transforming an everyday, inexpensive, two-dimensional material into a three-dimensional work of experimental design. Featuring the work of Elbowrkshp, Tom Fereday, Benja Harney, Tom Skeehan, Andrew Simpson, Harriet Watts and Charles Wilson.
Object Space - Vita Cochran: En Vitrine
5 April - 23 May
Embracing bold colour and geometry, Vita's hand embroidered handbags and applique hangings seek a position somewhere between utility, fashion and art. Made for Object Space, this exhibition has been conceived as a homage to a fascinating and forward-looking window display created by Sonia Delaunay for the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs;in Paris.
Embroidered Abstraction: Vita Cochran in conversation with Lisa Cahill
3 May, 6-8pm
Vita Cochran’s Object Space exhibition, En Vitrine was conceived as a homage to a fascinating and forward-looking window display created by Sonia Delaunay for the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs in Paris. In photographs of Delaunay’s window we see boldly embroidered handbags, draped patterned scarves, and a wonderful screen of contrasting geometric patterns. Diana Vreeland described it as “a one woman campaign of irresistible visual exuberance”. Come and listen to Vita chat with Lisa Cahill, CEO and Artistic Director, Australian Design Centre about her fascinating practice and the inspiration behind her Object Space show.
We also run free daily tours of our exhibitions and the Centre is open from 11am to 4pm from Tuesday to Saturday.
Find out more about International Museum Day here
Image: Obsessed: Compelled to make opening night event, 2017. Photo: Nick Kreisler.