Spencer Tunick’s first Australian Exhibition
17 SEP 2024
Spencer Tunick’s first Australian Exhibition
Created for Melt Festival 2024
28 September – 10 November 2024
Brisbane Powerhouse and Melt Festival are proud to present TIDE, a projected video exhibition from Spencer Tunick’s TIDE series, created during his first visit to Brisbane on 18 November 2023.
TIDE is Spencer Tunick’s debut exhibition in Australia and the first time this work will be released for the public to view.
2024 marks the artist’s 30th anniversary of documenting the live nude figure in public with photography and video, boldly using bare bodies en masse to create landscapes that flow, contort and meld together. Tunick has organised over 100 installations around the globe using dozens, hundreds or thousands of participants, his camera recording these captivating art events.
“Creating TIDE was a very special experience, and I hope the exhibition will speak to diverse groups of people. It is a privilege to be making art that centres around the LGBTQIA+ community with all its beauty and vibrance.” said Tunick.
Tunick invited 100+ participants from the Brisbane/Magandjin community to take part in TIDE 2023, with the aim of producing an installation that celebrates diverse bodies and represents a more accepting and equal future.
Tunick’s striking and surreal photographic artworks of this intimate installation are showcased in the TIDE single channel video exhibition which includes footage and stories that capture the empowering and poignant experiences of those who participated.
“My body has worn many years of factory jobs. I love the oneness of spirit Spencer brings out among diverse people with disparate beauty in public.” TIDE 2023 Participant.
The TIDE Exhibition is the perfect prelude to RISING TIDE, a monumental second installation that Tunick is creating for Melt Festival 2024, which will take place across Brisbane’s iconic Story Bridge on Sunday 27 October 2024. The bridge will be temporarily closed for this major art event which will feature thousands of live nude figures in celebration of diversity, equity, inclusion and Brisbane’s vibrant LGBTQIA+ community and allies.
Tunick is seeking participants for RISING TIDE on Sunday 27 October.
Each selected participant will receive a print of the final artwork, taken by Spencer, as a gift of appreciation from Brisbane Powerhouse and Melt.
NOTE: Submissions for Spencer’s previous Brisbane installation TIDE will be automatically included in RISING TIDE.
Brisbane Powerhouse Program Manager and TIDE and RISING TIDE Curator, Emmie Paranthoiene said “Many of the participants at TIDE expressed the joy and positive power of acceptance they felt from taking part in the installation. We hope that thousands more people will have the same experience when Spencer creates RISING TIDE on the Story Bridge on Sunday 27 October.”
TIDE EXHIBITION by SPENCER TUNICK
Saturday 28 September to Sunday 10 November 2024
9am – 5pm (extended hours during Night Feast)
RISING TIDE INSTALLATION
Sunday 27 October 2024 – Story Bridge, Brisbane
Register to participate at: melt.org.au/spencertunick
The TIDE Exhibition and RISING TIDE installation by Spencer Tunick are feature events of Brisbane’s Melt Festival, a fearless annual celebration of queer art, artists, allies and ideas.
