Art Works

The team head to three of Australia's summer arts festivals in Adelaide, Perth and Sydney, before they unpack the idea of 'art-washing': when organisations, individuals and even countries use art to distract from negative actions.

An introduction to Sidney Nolan by way of artist Dean Cross, a visit Powerhouse Ultimo's exhibition Eucalyptusdom, as it interrogates colonial narratives, and find out about the playful self-portraits of textile artist Adrienne Doig.

Namila Benson explores the Lorne Sculpture Biennale, and Eloise Fuss the 23rd Biennale of Sydney; Daina Sgarioto explains how she got into hand-tufting; the timely story of 91-year-old artist Tamara Bekier.

The team stop by world music festival WOMADelaide, and an augmented reality exhibition in Melbourne. They meet artist Alex Seton, who makes sculptures out of marble, and Punjabi Australian musicians Parvyn and her father, Dya Singh.

The team talk to Australia's representative at the Venice Biennale, Marco Fusinato, hear Aussie comedians talk politics, see Louise Coghill's photographs of the WA bushfires, and enter Frida Las Vegas's colourful Frida-verse.

A visit to the Bundanon Art Museum, and Aretha Brown and Emma Donavan talk album covers. Graeme McCullough speaks about the disappearing art of signwriting and the team explores the food and art exhibition, Simmer.