On 9 April 2019, the Biennale of Sydney announced the title of its 2020 edition, “NIRIN”, alongside the names of the first 33 participating artists. The Biennale of Sydney is the third oldest in the world, after Venice and São Paulo, and the largest in Australia. 2020 will see its 22nd edition, led by Artistic Director Brook Andrew. An interdisciplinary artist who examines dominant narratives, often relating to colonialism and modernist histories, Andrew chose the title for the Biennale, “NIRIN”, meaning ‘edge’, which interestingly is a word of Andrew’s mother’s Nation, the Wiradjuri people of western New South Wales. The Biennale, reflecting on the 2019 year of Indigenous Languages, thus provides an important platform to advocate for First Nation languages in the main stream.
![Lisa Reihana, Pursuit of Venus [infected] (detail), 2015–17, Ultra HD video, colour, 7.1 sound, 64min. Image courtesy the artist and New Zealand at Venice.](https://i0.wp.com/artspectacleasia.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/LisaReihana_arioi.jpg?w=1200&ssl=1)
There are seven themes that inspire “NIRIN”: DHAAGUN (Earth: Sovereignty and Working Together); BAGARAY-BANG (Healing); YIRAWY–DHURAY (Yam-Connection: Food); GURRAY (Transformation); MURIGUWAL GIILAND (Different Stories); NGAWAAL-GUYUNGAN (Powerful-Ideas: The Power of Objects); and BILA (River: Environment).
In addition to the title, the announcement also included the names of the first 33 participating artists, with Tony Albert (Australia), Lhola Amira (South Africa), Sammy Baloji (Congo), Huma Bhabha (Pakistan), Blacktown Native Institution (Dharug Nation, Australia), Lawrence Abu Hamdan (Lebanon), Mayunkiki (Japan), Kylie Kwong (Australia) and Lisa Reihana (New Zealand), among others. Quoted in the annoucement press release, Brook Andrew said of “NIRIN”:
NIRIN is not a periphery, it is our centre, and it expresses dynamic existing and ancient practices that speak loudly. NIRIN decentres, challenges and transforms dominant narratives, such as the 2020 Captain Cook anniversary in Australia and reorients Western mapping, shining a light on sites of being that are often ignored or rendered invisible. NIRIN is an inspirational journey driven by stories and grass-root practices, realised through twisting perceptions, moments of transition and a sense of being in the world that is interconnected.
Josephine Cashman, Board of Directors, Biennale of Sydney. Image courtesy Biennale of Sydney. Morry Schwartz AM, Board of Directors, Biennale of Sydney. Image courtesy Biennale of Sydney. Chris Wirasinha, Board of Directors, Biennale of Sydney. Image courtesy Biennale of Sydney.
The Biennale of Sydney also announced the appointment of three new members of its Board of Directors: Warrimay entrepreneur from New South Wales Josephine Cashman, one of Australia’s most esteemed publishers of quality journalism and literature Morry Schwartz AM, and Chris Wirasinha, co-founder of Pedestrian.tv, Australia’s largest youth focused publishing brand .
The 22nd Biennale of Sydney, “NIRIN”, will run from 14 March to 8 June 2020 at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Artspace, Campbelltown Arts Centre, Cockatoo Island, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia and the National Art School in Sydney.