A river that flows both ways

A river that flows both ways description

The understanding of non-human entities as ancestral beings with a right to life has long been held within Indigenous knowledge and stories. Only recently have animals, plants, mountains and bodies of water been granted the protections of legal personhood.

The 23rd Biennale of Sydney engaged with ideas about bodies of water as dynamic living systems. Titled rīvus, meaning “stream” in Latin, this exhibition enabled artists, architects, designers, scientists and communities to share in a dialogue with rivers, wetlands and other saltwater and freshwater ecosystems.

Artistic Director José Roca has collaborated with Adelaide Contemporary Experimental (ACE) to curate a new exhibition with contributions from a selection of artists who participated in the Biennale. A river that flows both ways features the work of Imhathai Suwatthanasilp, Aluaiy Kaumakan, Yuko Mohri and Sopolemalama Filipe Tohi.

Events

Opening Night Celebration
Fri 10 Feb, 6pm - 8pm | Adelaide Contemporary Experimental
Celebrate the opening of A river that flows both ways at this special event at Adelaide Contemporary Experimental. RSVPs requested.
Find out more or RSVP here >>

Keynote Lecture with José Roca 
Thu 9 Feb, 6pm - 7pm | The Radford Auditorium, Art Gallery of South Australia
Join us for a keynote lecture with Colombian curator José Roca, the Artistic Director of the 23rd Biennale of Sydney, as he discusses the importance of sustainability and collaboration within artistic and curatorial practice. RSVPs requested.
Find out more or RSVP here >>

Event additional information

Credits

Expand or collapse Credits

Co-commissioned by the Biennale of Sydney and Adelaide Contemporary Experimental, Adelaide, Australia, with generous support from the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund – an Australian Government initiative.

Image: Sopolemalama Filipe Tohi, Haukulasi, 1995–2021 (detail). Commissioned by the Biennale of Sydney with generous support from Creative New Zealand. Photo by Document Photography.

Partners

Expand or collapse Partners