Entangled (Scenarios for Sydney)

Relishing a precious opportunity to make art in service of progressive visions for climate change and adaptation, in collaboration with the amazing visionary Colin Finn.

Re-print of the event flyer by Committee of Sydney:
Committee For Sydney presents Scenarios For Sydney, 1st April 2025
East Sydney, Rushcutters Bay, and Woolloomooloo are precincts rich in history, culture, and community life. However, they also face pressing challenges, from coastal erosion and housing affordability pressures to the complexities of urban renewal and supporting our most vulnerable.

The question is not whether change will happen, but how we shape it. How can we how can we ensure that future development enhances, rather than erodes, the unique character and diverse communities that define these neighbourhoods?

At last year's Sydney Summit, Colin Finn of Blue/Green presented a Big Idea - to Rewild Rushcutter's Bay. Join us for an event that checks in on how this Big Idea is progressing and invites urbanists, planners, social advocates, and community leaders—to present their own provocations, exploring what must be preserved, what should be reimagined, and what new opportunities we could embrace to create an inclusive, vibrant, and sustainable future for East Sydney.

Speakers include:

• Alex Greenwich MP, Member for Sydney
• Allegra Spender MP, Member for Wentworth
• Cllr Jess Miller, City of Sydney
• Colin Finn, Director, Blue/Green
• Bill Dowzer, Principal, BVN
• Emily Sullivan, Assistant Curator, International Contemporary Art, Art Gallery of New South Wales
• Michael Wheatley, Head of Housing Portfolio, Homes NSW
• Estelle Grech, Planning Policy Manger, Committee for Sydney

Post-event performance: Critical Art Infrastructure
Agnès Michelet, Artistic Director/CEO Critical Path - a short intro to what Critical Path is and how it is critical art infrastructure

“Entangled”
The ocean, a constant presence on the shores of Rushcutters Bay. A source of life and delight. A portent of destruction. As rising sea levels threaten human habitation, the shoreline becomes a contested threshold. How do we respond?

Devisors: Lian Loke, Gideon Payten-Griffiths, Ira Ferris
Performers: Lian Loke, Gideon Payten-Griffiths [end of event flyer]
Text: Gideon Payten-Griffiths
Silver mylar courtesy of Lucy Humphries

In this second version of Entangled, we opted for a completely different approach. Whereas the first presentation was in the form of an immersive performance installation that created an atmosphere and narrative, given the constraints on time and access this time we decided to build the installation in real time as the speakers delivered their presentations in the Drill Hall. We acted as artist-hosts, inviting the audience into our working space, the home of Critical Path Choreographic Research Centre. We designed an orchestrated scenography that alludes to the sea (climate change) creeping up on us while we're busy living our lives! Throughout the speeches, we worked quietly in the background, manipulating silver mylar, safety mesh, sound and lights to build an environment around the seated audience. At the end of the talks, we took over and led the audience through a safety scenario inviting them to blow up the balloon taped under their seat. We culminated in a dance with the safety mesh, with Gideon singing the cryptic lyrics to Pennies From Heaven.

Photo credit: Stewart Monti