This huge mask is in the turbine hall in the decommissioned White Bay Power Station. I’ve tried to use selective colour to differentiate between old and new.
From the Biennale website:
“Today we will experience the 24th Biennale of Sydney, a contemporary art extravaganza, featuring some of the most remarkable works from around the globe and Australia. Imagine a free-spirited journey through contemporary art, music, and culinary delights, all set against the backdrop of the iconic White Bay Power Station. Reopening to the public for the first time in over 100 years, the iconic White Bay Power Station has been revitalised with care by the NSW Government so the doors can swing wide open as a new cultural hub.”
The White Bay Power Station is only 3km from the city and was built in 1912. It was decommissioned in 1983, cleaned up over the years and finally opened up in March 2024 as an exhibition area.
Katharine
Thanks Kathy. The mask is not Australian. I missed where it was from. Maybe Asia? I tried to look it up but no luck.
Thanks for the much appreciated comments. It took them years to clean up the site from all sorts of contaminants like asbestos and for a long time no one really knew what to do with it. I think they’ve put it to a marvellous use.
A brilliant photo and use of building.
Thanks for the much appreciated comments. The facility only opened as a gallery last month (I think)!