Getting ready to Begin-Again!

The final countdown is on until The Begin-Again and the excitement is building!

If you need reminding, The Begin-Again is a joint project by Hurstville City Council, C3West and Australian artist Angelica Mesiti. The Begin-Again was developed in response to Hurstville City Council’s Community Strategic Plan.

Over two nights, from sunset to midnight, Mesiti will bring the streets of Hurstville to life with four site specific video installations and a live performance that invoke the architecture of Hurstville as a backdrop to the stories of the area.

Hurstville City Council staff and staff from the Museum of Contemporary Art have been busy preparing for this marvellous event. Rehearsals have taken place; beautiful promotional material has been spread far and wide and an induction for event volunteers has been held so we’re almost set and ready to go.

We’ve been lucky enough to have a sneak peak at the films too and they are, well….amazing!
Whilst the event is not far off now (only three days to go!) check out our preview video.

For more information visit The Begin-Again webpage

The Begin-Again
Friday 1 & Saturday 2 April 2011
7.30pm - 12 midnight

The Begin-Again - Sites and performaces

View The Begin-Again in a larger map or download the event flyer [PDF 1.08MB]


1. OLD MAN RIVER
Memorial Square, Forest Road
Bathed in a blue light, local tenor Vince Lemon performs a rendition of the song ‘Old Man River’ as the starting point for The Begin-Again. The video is inspired by an image of Aboriginal elder, Albert, who lived along the shores of Kogarah Bay in the 1880s and 90s, and was known as ‘Albert King of the George’s River’.
The piece refers to the enduring elements in the natural environment as well as the elders of the community. Here the old stories, Indigenous and colonial, are treated as ever-flowing and essential.

2. TRAINS APPROACHING
Bus Interchange, Forest Road
Nestled in the bus interchange, this video presents a narrative of early settlement. A group of local children dressed in historical costumes stage the construction of the first train line; an image of Hurstville in its infancy.
The introduction of the train line in the 1880s marked a shift from rural outpost to commercial hub for Hurstville, and a graduation to an evolving city. The measured drumming that accompanies the video underscores Hurstville’s steady approach to development and echoes the reliance on public transport.

3. DANCE HALL
Diment Way
In the channel that connects Forest Road to Humphrey’s Lane, Mesiti presents a dream-like version of an exaggerated city skyline. This handcrafted version of Hurstville has been constructed by local children, and forms the set for a majestic performance of an Old Time Waltz by members of a local senior citizen dance group.
The elegance, grace and skill of these mature performers waltzing through the latern-like buildings create a lyrical meditation on the past and the future of these city spaces.

4. WATER SLEEVES
Humphrey’s Lane
Projected into a building facing Humphrey’s Lane is the image of a traditional Chinese Dance. Caught in a cinematic display of artistry, the seductive imagery of the work summons rich cultural traditions.
As an image if tradition and beauty, the video reflects the Chinese community’s rich cultural complexity, while also referring to their history in the area, in particular, the contribution to the social and economic fabric of the city since early settlement.

5. PAKRING LOT DRAGON
Westfield Rooftop Car Park
With a view of the surrounding high-rise cityscape, the Westfield rooftop car park is the stage for a live performance that highlights symbols from the community to address possible futures. These include the dragon, which figures in Chinese mythology, as well as a mascot in local council and sporting teams.
Scattered throughout the lot are idling, customised cars that appear to be glowing, shrouded in dramatic lighting and smoke. Once an hour this mystic landscape is invigorated by the blaring bass of the cars’ stereos and stir the sinuous dance of a Chinese New Year Dragon.
As a cultural remix of local traditions and subcultures, the performance is a fitting climax for The Begin-Again. With intensity of colour and movements, the performance transforms the concerns of local communities into images of striking beauty.
Performance times:
8.30, 9.30, 10.30, 11.30 pm

The Begin-Again

Angelica Mesiti
Trains Approaching (still) 2010
single-channel video installation
photograph: Jamie North
© the artist

Welcome to The Begin-Again, a joint project by C3West and Hurstville City Council by Australian artist Angelica Mesiti

1 & 2 APRIL 2011

7:30PM - 12 MIDNIGHT

Welcome to The Begin-Again, a joint project by C3West and Hurstville City Council by Australian artist Angelica Mesiti. C3West is a long term collaborative project that develops new ways of working between cultural institutions, artists, businesses and communities in Greater Sydney. The Begin-Again was developed in response to Hurstville City Council’s Community Strategic Plan.

Over two nights, from sunset to midnight, Mesiti brings the streets of Hurstville to life with four site specific video installations and a live performance that invoke the architecture of Hurstville as a backdrop to the stories of the area.

Responding to concerns such as the increase in highrise development, traffic congestion and increased population, Mesiti’s project is a poetic and visually arresting response to how these concerns affect Hurstville’s sense of connectedness. Through her lens, Mesiti allows us to view Hurstville’s anxieties in alternate ways and meditate on transformation and renewal.

Cr Philip Sansom / Mayor of Hurstville

Elizabeth Ann Macgregor / Director, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney

The Begin-Again

The Begin-Again is coming..