Greek society is one that is uncompromisingly proud of its culture and achievements. This pride is rather justified when you consider all of the great things the small Mediterranean nation has produced over time, from great thinkers like Socrates to heavenly dishes like honey puffs. Join the Greek community in celebration of the nation this weekend with the return of Paniyiri Greek Festival. more
'All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others' is perhaps the most famous (and revealing) line from George Orwell's literary piece, Animal Farm. The allegorical novel is renowned for being one of the world's most admired political critiques and is now about to return to QPAC's stage in a theatrical version. more
In an age of increasing hair gel usage and metrosexuality, the lines of what constitutes manliness can be somewhat blurry. It's this confusing territory that is traipsed in the latest theatrical production to arrive on stage at Fortitude Valley's Judith Wright Centre, Sons of Sin – a foray into the definition of a modern man. more
A premier art show that began in 1970 in Basel, Switzerland, Art Basel will now stage three shows each year across Basel, Miami Beach and Hong Kong. The inaugural Hong Kong edition will run May 23–26 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, luring gallerists, collectors, artists, curators, critics and art lovers alike to experience an abundance of dynamic and immersive global artworks. more
You can combine your love for a statement t-shirt and passion for artistic idols at Let’s Face It this week. The interactive arts and crafts session is a part of the pre-party festivities of the Analogue/Digital discussions in Brisbane. From 5:00 pm on Thursday eve, Brisbanites are welcomed to gather at Ross Street Studio. The Newstead den will play home to Let’s Face It 2013 – a screen-printing party in which a group of works from Australian talents will be printed onto cotton accoutrements. The concept works as follows – choose four parts from your favourite artists (most of whom will be there on the night) and the designs will be screen-printed onto a t-shirt for you to proudly don for work or play. Some of the creative talents who will be there include Loretto Lizzio, Mulga the Artist, Toiltee by Stu Vidler, Nick Chalmers, Ben Johnston, Tabitha Shafran, Alarna… more
Those without the time or the pocket change to travel down south for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival fear not, for the show is about to visit Queensland as a part of its annual touring roadshow. This event – titled Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow – inspires laughter in audiences across the nation with its line-up of some of the world’s most renowned comedians, as well as some of the theatrical genre’s most recent discoveries. This year the show will be held from May 15–18 at Brisbane Powerhouse and will showcase the talents of Loretta Maine, Asher Treleaven, Nazeem Hussain, Tom Deacon and Tommy Little. Each funny individual’s act is contained within the single show that lasts for about two-and-a-half hours. Image via Abigail Loves. more
Set in a chic penthouse apartment atop the Judith Wright Centre, Uta Uber Kool Ja is a hilarious display of immersive theatre. more
Annual creative conference Analogue/Digital is coming to Brisbane for the first time this week, bringing with it a host of international and Australian talent to inspire and intrigue the next generation of creative leaders. more
Queensland may still radiate the youthful glow of a place that is only just more than 200 years old, but in that time it has still managed to create an impressively strong musical presence. The State Library of Queensland (SLQ) will be celebrating this musical history of our state with its Live! program. more
India is a nation that is host to a vibrant and exotic culture, but one that is often overshadowed by the opulence of its architectural feats. While the allure of the Taj Mahal and the country's other national landmarks will never lose appeal, India also has a bustling arts scene, which it is ready to showcase to the world. Soon South Bank will introduce a foray into Indian culture with Encounters:India, in collaboration with Queensland Conservatorium. more
Reality television has infiltrated TV sets to the extent that it is now hard to remember life without it. From lifestyle cooking shows to profiling groups of hard-partiers at various shores around the world, reality television holds a prominence on screen that has now infiltrated the stage. In an interesting twist on the theatrical sphere, La Boite will soon be employing the voting techniques associated with reality television with the return of the first part of the 2013 Indie Season. more
Nick Earls is one of Brisbane’s best-known writers. Armed with pen and paper, he has managed to successfully capture a sense of the Brisbane community and its locals since the late 1980s. In 2001 Nick released World of Chickens, a story that explores friendship, family, love and ambition and all set within a suburban takeaway joint. The tale is staged around the life of two medical students, working their way through uni with a job at Ron Todd’s World of Chickens. It explores the two lads’ complicated and awkward relationship with the owner, Ron Todd, his daughter Sophie and wife Zel. Metro Arts’ version of the tale is the debut production of Short Case Theatre Company, which is a theatre initiative made up of junior doctors and doctors-in training. All proceeds from the stage will go towards the work of the University of Queensland’s Medical Society… more
A childhood spent exploring the rugged natural beauty of Queensland has directly inspired the creations of Brisbane artist Benjamin Johansen. The gent’s years spent growing up in the Maryborough and Hervey Bay regions have provided him with a fondness for colour that continues to filter directly into his artwork. A love of hue is not only what the former University of Queensland architecture student is passionate about – his art also traverses surrealism, imagination and form. Benjamin’s unique works are typically awash with a vibrant collection of shades, which also display anonymous figures, and animal and plant imagery. Benjamin’s talents will be on display at his debut exhibition Saturation, to be held at New Farm art haunt Graydon Gallery from May 14–19. more
Well before the days of iTunes and Spotify, the analogue sound of a vinyl record was the one and only way for music lovers to enjoy their favourite tunes. Today the rotund device remains not only a beloved artefact of musical history, but is still considered to be one of the best ways to listen to a melody, thanks to the depth of warm, raw sound it provides. more
More than just the country responsible for Cloud Atlas – the recent film starring Tom Hanks and Halle Berry – Germany and its contemporary and dynamic cinema is gaining wider recognition. Audiences are invited to delve into the nation’s rich culture at the Audi Festival of German Films. more
An exchange project between seven window gallery spaces across Australia, Dispatch is the creation of Brisbane Artist Run Initiative (ARI) Current Projects. more
The catchy tune 'Sweet Disposition' infiltrated the airwaves and ears of people around the globe when the single was first released in 2008. As a result, the song reached the coveted top 15 position in singles charts around the world, as well as propelling its creators, Australian indie-band The Temper Trap, to fame. more
You may not have the talent of British photographer David Bailey, but if you harbour the same passion for the art form you will find yourself welcomed at Queensland Centre for Photography. The centre acts solely as a gallery that displays the latest from emerging local photographic talents across a realm of different subjects. From Saturday May 4, the gallery will become host to a handful of new exhibitions, including Earth Shadow, Littoral, Kanazawa Study and Dump/Fylling – the majority of which explore the beauty of the natural world around us. more
Scotland may have gifted us haggis, kilts and Braveheart, but it has also provided the Southern Hemisphere with artist Robert McLeod. While born in Glasgow, Robert migrated to New Zealand in the 1970s, where he has since happily lived. It’s from this base that Robert creates his exuberant artworks, of ghoulish cartoon figures in a rainbow colour palette, which he showcases often across the Tasman in Australia. Robert’s latest exhibition continues his interest in painting in the style of figuration. Titled Sliding into the Surface of Things, the collection of pieces displays Robert’s obvious interest in form, movement and colour. You can see the exhibition at Small Works Gallery from May 4 to June 1. more
The 1980s may have been known for its huge hair and loud outfits, but it was also a time for a musical shift and the emergence of bands focused on flamboyant entertainment. One such act was They Might Be Giants, which came straight out of Brooklyn, New York. Founded by John Flansburgh and John Linnell, the group has toured almost continuously since its creation, accompanied by the same backing band time and time again. The band has also been involved in numerous television and film projects, leading it to win two Grammys. They Might Be Giants is currently touring Australia and New Zealand – on Wednesday May 8 the group will drop in to The Zoo, with tickets to the event available online. more
