Collective Polyphony Festival
Across Melbourne + Kyneton
2 September – 28 October 2023
Artistic Director: Nina Sanadze
Curatorial Assistants: Georgina Loughnan, Mia Palmer-Verevis, Yu-zhen Cheng, Thomas Stoddard and Xiaolin Chen
Photographer: Astrid Mulder
Video: Justin Balmain
FULL FESTIVAL WEBSITE HERE collectivepolyphony.com
Modelling peace-building architecture and infrastructure, the Collective Polyphony Festival is a ground-breaking inaugural multi-space event that fosters and nurtures emerging and established artist collectives.
Collective Polyphony Festival is founded upon the central idea of artists supporting artists.
For Collective Polyphony Festival exhibitions, each collective is encouraged to work within their unique themes and agendas to develop new work or show existing projects. Just as in music, where polyphony weaves together distinct melodies to create a harmonious whole, Collective Polyphony Festival embraces a narrative and artistic approach that welcomes multiple perspectives, voices, and ideas. At a time when many communities are socially and politically fragmented, Collective Polyphony Festival seeks to reimagine the world through a multifaceted but united lens.
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The genesis of Collective Polyphony Festival developed from Nina Sanadze’s decision to share her Gertrude Residency solo show at the Glasshouse with her ShrewD Collective members, shedding light on their artistic practices and fostering mutual support, community cohesion, and collaboration as an antidote to socially ingrained peer competitiveness.
Staying true to her large-scale, peace-building projects and social practice, Nina expanded this concept to orchestrate Collective Polyphony Festival, extending invitations to more art collectives and exhibition spaces. The response was heart-warming. Despite numerous efforts, the Collective Polyphony Festival garnered no funding and primarily operates through volunteer efforts and gallery partnerships.
This extraordinary gathering brought together 10 local and international, emerging and established artist collectives across 7 leading exhibition spaces.
In-Kind Collective <> Stockroom (Kyneton, VIC)
2 September – 1 October 2023
ShrewD Collective <> Gertrude Glasshouse (Collingwood)
LAST Collective <> Mary Cherry (Collingwood)
8 September – 7 October 2023
The Chinese Museum Art Collective <> Testing Grounds (CBD)
9 September – 30 September 2023
Seaweed Appreciation Society International <> BLINDSIDE (CBD)
Collective Agitation + London Alternative Photography Collective
<> BLINDSIDE (CBD)
13 September – 7 October 2023
Saluhan Collective <> SEVENTH Gallery (Richmond)
21 September – 13 October 2023
Pitcha Makin Fellas <> Daine Singer (Brunswick)
23 September – 28 October 2023
Gudskul: Ruangrupa, Serrum, Grafis Huru Hara collectives <> Testing Grounds (CBD)
30 September 2023 (1-day event)
