In deference to our Victorian sisters and brothers who are back in lockdown, I am republishing a piece from April. The last thing you think of when facing a pandemic is the quality of cultural humour it will spur. And the blacker the situation the funnier the responses, so please forgive my following choices should they offend. My selection is neither based on politically correctness nor cultural snobbery. I’ve selected the pieces that made me smile the most regardless of the

‘Magic and Loss: the Internet as Art’ and ‘The Phenomenon of Man’ Virginia Heffernan, author of ‘Magic and Loss: The Internet as Art’ (2016) has written a book that presents the internet as a multi-creator work; an artwork to which we – each and every user of the internet – contributes. While reading, I couldn’t help thinking that there was something in ‘Magic and Loss’ that echoed another, much older text, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin’s ‘The Phenomenon of Man’. (*‘The Phenome

Life after COVID-19 I’m continuing Henry’s theme from last week and presenting my vision – as food for thought – of a post-COVID-19 world. The most 'Brave New World' possibility first. Transparency regarding health; nationally, regionally and personally, will be a given. Presently we have individually worn digital tools that can measure heart rates, temperatures, and other vital signs. It is not a huge leap in application for this information to be nationally or even internat

Contagions Firstly, I am sharing a piece of propaganda sent to me by a girlfriend in Dubai that is currently doing the rounds in the Middle East. It adheres to sound medical advice but I think it will make you smile … or get angry, considering the lack of international alerts communicated by the Chinese government when COVID-19 first struck. Next comes some on-theme fiction. I am not going to encourage any of Henry’s readers to download the Soderbergh film ‘Contagion’ (2011

AGENCY William Gibson As we all feel like characters in a surreal landscape at present – and I do wish someone would tell me what my character should be feeling – I’m reviewing the latest William Gibson novel ‘Agency’. Our present reality is threatened by forces and behaviours not so dissimilar to the worlds conjured by Mr Gibson. OK. Locating shot. It is 2017, Hillary has won the election and the world is on the verge of a nuclear war … but that is not the most important thi

AND NOW image: 'Bitcoin Mining and Field Recordings of Ethnic Minorities' (frame only). Liu Chuang. Courtesy of the artist and White Rabbit Gallery. AND NOW, is the long-awaited exhibition that follows the previous White Rabbit Gallery's ‘Then’ exhibition. “With a penchant for obscure metaphors and cryptic imagery, the “Misty Poets” were a little-known movement that flourished in China during the turbulent years between 1979 and 1989. Challenging Maoist artistic ideology, th

Emma Director: Autumn de Wilde Screenwriter Eleanor Catton Jane Austen novels are things of charm and this movie adaptation of her novel ‘Emma’ will not leave Austen fans wanting. I must admit that after covering the Mardi Gras these last weeks, watching 'Emma' was a little like having a cup of Earl Grey after a diet of vodka and Red Bull. And an elegant cup it was, accompanied by little pink icing cakes served on exquisite plates in gorgeous locations. Director de Wilde’s ba

Our Blood Runs in the Street Creator and Director: Shane Anthony Cast: Andrew Fraser, Cassie Hamilton, David Helman, Eddie Orton, Sam Plummer, Ross Walker and Tim Walker. image: Jasmin Simmons ‘Our Blood Runs in the Street’ draws on the submissions and hearing transcripts from the NSW Parliamentary inquiry into Gay and Transgender Hate Crimes between 1970 and 2010 that was established on 19th September 2018 with the interim report filed on 26th February 2019. Between 1970 and

Mardi Gras is like LGBTQ Christmas. Happy, friendly people all over town, lots of interstate and international visitors, apartments start playing dance music late into the night, supermarkets and the gyms become pick-up venues … well, maybe not quite Christmas but Sydney is abuzz :) image: 'Venus as a Bug' (detail) courtesy of the artist and National Art School I went to Queer Contemporary opening night at National Art School. The theme was ‘Misfit: Collage and Queer Practice

Oscars and Others … Bong Joon-ho’s ‘Parasite’ was an obvious Oscar winner on quality and political depth, likewise the acting ability of Joaquin Phoenix in Todd Phillips’ ‘Joker’. I didn’t see Rupert Goold’s ‘Judy’, but have been told by numerous others that Renee Zellweger was fab and deserved her lead actress award. I’m not, however, going to celebrate Renee. Instead I’m going to celebrate our Australian Hollywood IT girl and Oscar nominee Margot Robbie – a contender with

Art Express 2020 Art Express is always one of the most refreshing annual exhibitions held at AGNSW. It showcases a selection of outstanding student artworks developed for the art-making component of the HSC examination in Visual Arts and provides an insight into students, their preoccupations and their creativity. This year’s subject matter highlights the environment, identity, family, tribe … even online dating. Pretty much what you would expect not only from a group of 17-1