Culture

The first Melbourne Sculpture Biennale – held in a historic house in Kew – was a welcome survey of contemporary Australian practice.

An operatic adaptation of Murray Bail’s novel Eucalyptus updates his fable for contemporary audiences.

Half a century later, Jason Reitman invokes the premiere of Saturday Night Live  in a film that honours the show’s legacy without fully exploring the danger of its comedy.

A life-threatening throat abscess meant The The singer-songwriter Matt Johnson faced losing his voice. Now he’s touring his first new album in almost a quarter-century.

The designed objects in Elliat Rich’s Canberra Glassworks exhibition, Mythica Ignota, are inspired by ancient stories, and offer optimistic ways of viewing a damaged world.

Some of the most interesting alternative pop of recent years is emerging from a group of ultra-talented Danish women.

Award-winning composer and musician Qais Essar – who tours Australia this month – is bringing the ancient voice of the rabab into the contemporary world.

When they arrived at the gates, some resisted and were arrested. Others tried to negotiate and were swaddled in rugs and treated for concussion. I tried to avoid the chaos but could still hear the shouting and see the flares; and I could still smell the smoke. I made countless errors at the clinic that night. Some saw this as the expression of an unconventional sense of humour. I was not feeling myself.