The Healing Power of Art
Dec. 18th, 2024 09:26 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tcpipFollowing my return from the tragically sad events in Perth, I have found myself attending a variety of aesthetic events. This started when Erica H. saw the University of Melbourne's Faculty of Fine Arts put on an opera "Hänsel und Gretel" at the rather impressive new Union Theatre. Sung in German (with subtitles), with a set and costuming that was both minimalist and complete, Lisette Bolton (as Gretel) and Metehan Pektas (as The Witch) were especially excellent performers. Two nights later I was taken out by Fiona C., to "The War on 2024 Annual Comedy Gala" at Hamer Hall. The comedians included Australia's best, led by Mark Humphries, with all providing a thorough satirical and scathing review of the major political news headlines of the past year. Political comedy always has been among the bravest of its art because it channels the discontent of the people as ridicule to those with power, and this was no exception.
The Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) has been hosting a series of events relating to Icelandic performer Björk. After spending a day out with Mel S., and Erica H., I ventured to the venue to drift off into another world, with Björk’s narrating the documentary "Fungi: Web of Life 3D" where the information, filmography, and narration were all of excellent quality. On Monday, I repeated a visit with Erica H. and Angela M. to see Björk in a starring role for the peasant-class medieval drama "The Juniper Tree" which came with a challenging realistic portrayal of a low-fantasy story. I note with some excitement that ACMI is also currently hosting a "Future Fictions" exhibition, which includes set items and art from "Cyberpunk 2077" and "Blade Runner 2049" and, to stay on theme, more content from Björk, this time in the form of her clothing from "The Gate".
Between this, I ventured out to see "The Garbage and the Flowers", a low-key alternative rock band, at the Tramway Hotel. In the process, I caught up with Guy B., an old Perth friend (and friend of Peter Lyons), and briefly with Ruby M. Last year's EP by said group was sufficiently good that this caught my attention, and I've composed a review covering both the EP and the live show on Rocknerd. Afterwards, I travelled to Springvale to attend the 30th Anniversary Gala Dinner of the Fujian Chinese Association. Attended by around 500 people, the event included a delegation from said province, several state and Federal MPs, and a former Australian ambassador, a notable juxtaposition from the previous event. In my role as ACFS (Victoria) President, I gave a short speech. It must be said that in my experience, these associations really know how to put on an event; the endless stream of superb performances, dancers, singers, etc, was only matched by the equally endless stream of culinary delights.
To finish it all off (temporarily), last night I had Maggie S., over for dinner. Maggie, now long retired, has a rich history in journalism through ABC (where she had a major role in the famous music show "Countdown") and as the Melbourne editor of the magazines "Cosmopolitan" and "Vogue". She entertained me with stories of her interviews and the often challenging chaperoning of various musicians from the 1980s, including Deborah Harry, Andrew Ridgeley, Billy Joel, Boy George, and many others. We spoke a great deal of the notorious wildness of mind common among those with aesthetic inclinations and the problems this may cause, and yet also recognition that art has a healing power. For all the losses of those dear to our hearts, there is still the hope of beauty, justness, and truth in this world - and that is worth fighting for.
The Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) has been hosting a series of events relating to Icelandic performer Björk. After spending a day out with Mel S., and Erica H., I ventured to the venue to drift off into another world, with Björk’s narrating the documentary "Fungi: Web of Life 3D" where the information, filmography, and narration were all of excellent quality. On Monday, I repeated a visit with Erica H. and Angela M. to see Björk in a starring role for the peasant-class medieval drama "The Juniper Tree" which came with a challenging realistic portrayal of a low-fantasy story. I note with some excitement that ACMI is also currently hosting a "Future Fictions" exhibition, which includes set items and art from "Cyberpunk 2077" and "Blade Runner 2049" and, to stay on theme, more content from Björk, this time in the form of her clothing from "The Gate".
Between this, I ventured out to see "The Garbage and the Flowers", a low-key alternative rock band, at the Tramway Hotel. In the process, I caught up with Guy B., an old Perth friend (and friend of Peter Lyons), and briefly with Ruby M. Last year's EP by said group was sufficiently good that this caught my attention, and I've composed a review covering both the EP and the live show on Rocknerd. Afterwards, I travelled to Springvale to attend the 30th Anniversary Gala Dinner of the Fujian Chinese Association. Attended by around 500 people, the event included a delegation from said province, several state and Federal MPs, and a former Australian ambassador, a notable juxtaposition from the previous event. In my role as ACFS (Victoria) President, I gave a short speech. It must be said that in my experience, these associations really know how to put on an event; the endless stream of superb performances, dancers, singers, etc, was only matched by the equally endless stream of culinary delights.
To finish it all off (temporarily), last night I had Maggie S., over for dinner. Maggie, now long retired, has a rich history in journalism through ABC (where she had a major role in the famous music show "Countdown") and as the Melbourne editor of the magazines "Cosmopolitan" and "Vogue". She entertained me with stories of her interviews and the often challenging chaperoning of various musicians from the 1980s, including Deborah Harry, Andrew Ridgeley, Billy Joel, Boy George, and many others. We spoke a great deal of the notorious wildness of mind common among those with aesthetic inclinations and the problems this may cause, and yet also recognition that art has a healing power. For all the losses of those dear to our hearts, there is still the hope of beauty, justness, and truth in this world - and that is worth fighting for.
