This weekend’s highlights include an architecture and urbanism biennale in Hong Kong, Denver duo Tennis’s second album and an Oscar contender from Belgium.
1. ARCHITECTURE: HONG KONG
—Hong Kong & Shenzhen Bi-City Biennale
“One theme, two exhibitions,” is the motto of the Hong Kong & Shenzhen Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism and Architecture. This year’s edition features 50 exhibitors from over 10 countries, including China, Japan, Singapore, France, the UK , Finland, Australia and the US. Since its debut in 2007, the biennale has been a successful platform to showcase works from renowned architectural collectives. This year will see a focus on affordable housing and urban density, while showcasing the best in local talent.
Kowloon Park and Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre. Open Monday to Saturday 10.00 – 18.00, Sundays and public holidays 10.00-19.00, closed Thursdays. Until 23 April
[hkszbiennale.org]
2. PHOTOGRAPHY: MELBOURNE
—This is the Show: Rennie Ellis
Celebrate the salacious at this exhibition of the late Rennie Ellis’s photographs. Taken in 1970s Australia these sometimes lewd portraits explore the elusive nature of beauty with a uniquely Aussie twist. Central to the exhibition is Deborah Thomas, whose nights out at St Kilda’s famous Crystal Ballroom – mixing with fashion designer Jenny Bannister and rocker Nick Cave – made her Ellis’s ideal muse.
Mossgreen Gallery, 310 Toorak Road, South Yarra. Open Monday to Friday from 10.00-17.30 and Saturday 10.00-16.00. Until 3 March
[mossgreen.com.au]
3. FILM: US
—Bullhead
This bizarre yarn spun by Belgian director Michaël R. Roskam revolves around an agreement between a cattle farmer, a notorious beef trader and a shady veterinarian. The tragedy that results has caught the attention of film critics worldwide, with Bullhead earning a spread of awards and now being inline for the ultimate in cinematic kudos, a Best Foreign Film nomination at the 2012 Oscars.
Bullhead is on limited release from 17 February in New York, Los Angeles and Austin
drafthousefilms.com/film/bullhead
4. ART: BOGOTA
—Óscar Muñoz, Protografías
Under the curatorship of José Roca, Tate’s newly appointed adjunct curator of Latin-American Art, the Museo de Arte del Banco de la República in Bogotá takes a look at the works of photographer and artist Óscar Muñoz. The Colombian-born multimedia creative makes often political and always psychologically arresting work that reveals how the static image can be manipulated by light, materials and context, using video, still photography and sculpture.
4-21, 11th Street, Bogotá. Open Monday to Saturday 9.00-19.00. Closed on Tuesday. Until 12 March
banrepcultural.org
5. MUSIC: GLOBAL
—Tennis: Young And Old
Denver husband and wife act Tennis have been steadily building numbers, both in fans and band members, since starting as a bedroom recording project. First album Cape Dory arrived barely a year ago, but they’re back already with Young And Old, which expands on their cute pop sound with some artfully placed serrated edges. That’ll be in keeping with the band’s claim of wanting to sound like Stevie Nicks stuck in a classic Motown recording session. Blissful yet bittersweet, Young and Old is the best of both worlds.
Young And Old is available to buy now
tennis-music.com
