MELBOURNE DESIGN WEEK This year’s eventcalls the efficacy of the design industry into question. In the current period of rapid
urbanisation, digitisation, population growth and ecological transformation, are design and architecture being used for good or are they
creating more problems? The theme of this year’s MDW is Design Experiments, where designers are encouraged to disrupt and transform
our world and then share their ideas with an international audience at venues throughout the city. (March 14–24; ngv.vic.gov.au)The largest celebration of French
cinemaoutside France turns 30 this
year. Fifty-four films and
documentaries will be screened at
Palace Cinemas across seven cities
and three satellite locations, making
this the largest program in the
festival’s history. See the likes of
Charlotte Gainsbourg, Catherine
Deneuve, Audrey Tautou, and
Vanessa Paradis and her daughter,
Lily-Rose Depp, among many
other big players of French cinema.
(March 5–April 17;
affrenchfilmfestival.org)CRADLE MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVALLocationsthroughout Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain
National Park and village are transformed into makeshift, off-grid cinemas. Head to the Forest
Yurt Cinema for Q&As, embark on the self-guided Mountain Huts Film Trail for a remote
screening experience, or keep active with canyoning, yoga, cold-water therapy and filmmaker
workshops. (March 29–31; cradlemountainfilmfest.com)Fresh from a season in Melbourne, the Australian
Ballet’sVe r v ewill come to Sydney for three weeks
in April. Comprising three dramatically different
works by three choreographers,Ve r v esees dancers
move through sculptural Renaissance-like
formations in Stephen Baynes’Constant Variations;
have their movements reflected on a golden floor
in Alice Topp’sAurum; and dance in a monolithic
set in Tim Harbour’sFiligree and Shadow.
(April 5–25; australianballet.com.au)ESCHER X NENDO
Master of optical illusion M.C. Escher’s
mind-bending works are on display at the
National Gallery of Victoria in an
otherworldly spatial installation created by
Japanese design studio nendo.The
exhibition spans his whole career from
1916 to his final work, created in 1969.
Under the leadership of Oki Sato, nendo
has transformed the gallery space into a
3D manifestation of the artist’s surreal
world.(Until April 7; ngv.vic.gov.au)Smoky-voiced songstress
and nine-time Grammy
winner Norah Jones hasn’t
been to Australia in six
years or New Zealand in
14.The pianist and vocalist
is now making up for lost
time with three super-
intimate gigs in Sydney,
Melbourne and Hobart,
and five shows in New
Zealand.(April 12–29;
frontiertouring.com)Mélanie Thierry in
Memoir of War.The Australian Ballet’s
CallumLinnane and
Valerie Tereshchenko.Relativity,1953, by M.C. Escher.
The Violet Ballet.Edited by
ALEXANDRA ENGLISHTHE VIOLET BALLETNORAH JONESAustralian contemporary artist Sally
Smart, perhaps best known for her
large-scale collage installations and
2017 collaboration with Italian
fashion house Marni, is bringing her
surreal, high-impact art to life in an
immersive installation for the
Adelaide Festival. InThe Violet Ballet,
Smart examines the legacy
of Ballets Russes, a roving Parisian
dance company from the early
1900s, alongside Punokawan,
a traditional Indonesianwayang
(puppet) character, through textiles,
costumes, dance, film and shadow
puppetry.(March 2–April 27;
adelaidefestival.com.au)ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE
FRENCH FILM FESTIVALJEFF BUSBY; DANNY CLINCH; TAYLOR-FERNÉ MORRIS; COURTESY OF THE MC ESCHERCOMPANY, THE NETHERLANDS/THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF VICTORIA; LES FILMS DU POISSON164 HARPERSBAZAAR.COM.AU April 2019
CULTURE