Noosa Regional Gallery and Noosa Council have announced the official opening of one of Noosa’s most anticipated and iconic cultural events, Floating Land.
Shifting its frame of reference with each new occurrence, the Floating Land Biennale is an art event like no other.
Curator and Noosa Regional Gallery director Michael Brennan said, “It’s not an event that can be pigeon-holed; that’s a big part of its allure. It really keeps you guessing.”
This year’s 12th iteration is provocatively titled Us and Them.
“Floating Land has always had a strong connection to the natural environment. It’s often been about ecological, environmental, and by extension, social issues,” Mr Brennan said.
“A number of frictions in society feel like they have become amplified over recent years. And on many occasions, it is battles of self-interest that can be the impetus for mistreatment of the environment.”
Seeking to scrutinise aberration and affinity and encouraging us to look at other perspectives, Floating Land: Us and Them again features a curated line-up of artists whose works make us ask questions about our place in the world. Collectively, they challenge our assumptions, check prejudice, and present works that revel in discomfort.
Get ready for a journey into art, nature, and the human condition.
Further setting Floating Land 2023 apart from previous iterations is the broader extension of installations and events across the Noosa Region, rather than focusing on just one or two locations.
Less conventional sites such as Pomona Cemetery, and restricted access locations like Johns Landing, reflect topics deemed equally challenging.
Noosa Heads will once again feature significantly, with installations that offer ease of access for visiting tourists. The Park Road Boardwalk and Noosa Woods, for example, will boast works accessible 24/7, while evening projections at Noosa Main Beach will entice visitors into the night.
Brennan continues, “No doubt some of these works will take us out of our comfort zones. But when you move past that initial reaction to the work, I hope it opens up the space to step into someone else’s shoes and see their perspective – to find common ground across different parts of the community.”
The full suite of artistic projects is now available online in an easy-to-navigate digital brochure. Events and workshops are now open for bookings.
Floating Land: us and them will run from 24 June to 30 July 2023. Entry to the event is free. Visit: floatingland.org.au
Join the official opening event on Saturday 24 June from 2-5pm at River Stage, Gympie Terrace Noosaville.
Free tickets are available via the website.
