SYDNEY.- Explore Sydney Contemporary, the digital edition of Australasia’s premier art fair, Sydney Contemporary, in partnership with MA Financial Group, has secured sales in excess of AU$4million during its 11-day presentation from 11 until 21 November 2021 (Collector Preview 10 November). Galleries have reported further sales continuing into this week. The dynamic custom-designed digital platform welcomed 40,000+ visitors, and featured over 80 leading galleries from Australia and New Zealand, presenting over 1,700 artworks by 560 artists from Australia and around the world – making it the largest online platform in Australasia for viewing and purchasing artwork.
Tim Etchells, Founder of Sydney Contemporary said: “We are delighted at the strong sales secured through our Explore Sydney Contemporary custom digital platform and are proud to have been able to contribute an important financial boost to the participating galleries and artists, following what has been an uncertain and challenging year. We look forward to returning stronger than ever next year, with a robust physical edition of Sydney Contemporary at our longstanding home at Carriageworks, 8–11 September 2022.”
Barry Keldoulis, Fair Director of Sydney Contemporary, said: “Explore Sydney Contemporary provided crucial support for the Australian arts community, both through sales of artworks and with a public program that brought many together. Our keynote panel discussion provided a platform for critical debate amongst sector participants and offered new perspectives on Australia’s arts industry at a time of profound social, cultural and political transformation. We are also particularly proud of our UNTOLD series of first nations artist videos that offered insights into the work of a number of exhibiting artists taking part in Explore Sydney Contemporary. Following the success of this digital edition, we very much look forward to returning to a physical edition of Sydney Contemporary in 2022 and are working hard to ensure that it will be our best Fair yet!”
Notable sales as part of Explore Sydney Contemporary included the acquisition of four works by Artbank, the Australian Federal Government supported contemporary art collection, who purchased works by emerging Australian artists valued at more than AU$25,000. At Explore Sydney Contemporary Artbank acquired a painting from the APY Art Centre Collective by Zaachariaha Fielding; a watercolour monotype by Annika Romeyn (Flinders Lane Gallery); and two ceramic works by Georgia Morgan (Bett Gallery).
The headline keynote panel discussion delivered on 16 November 2021 via zoom through the Explore Sydney Contemporary platform attracted widespread positive feedback and engagement. Titled After Shocks: Art, Disruption and Provocation, the keynote was moderated by Executive Director, Artspace, Alexie Glass-Kantor with speakers artist Tony Albert, curator and writer, Laura Raicovich, Jarrod Rawlins, Director, Curatorial Affairs, Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) and Natasha Bullock, Assistant Director, Curatorial and Programs at the National Gallery of Australia (NGA). The keynote focused on leading institutional structural change and embedding new perspectives in the arts sector and was presented in partnership with Artspace and supported by the Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund.
Alongside the keynote, Explore Sydney Contemporary presented a series of First Nations artist video portraits titled UNTOLD, that brought to life the language, Country and stories of some of the First Nations artists represented in the online fair. Artists who participated in the UNTOLD artist video portraits Tony Albert, Peta Clancy, Karla Dickens, Jenna Lee, Noŋgirrŋa Marawili, Dr Christian Thompson AO, Regina Pilawuk Wilson and Jemima Wyman. UNTOLD was curated and produced by Agency Projects and supported by the Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund.
Gallerists who participated in Explore Sydney Contemporary enthused about their experience of the unique digital edition, highlighting the forging of new connections with emerging collectors and new audiences that resulted from the experience.
“Explore Sydney 2021 provided an exciting online platform to showcase a diverse range of new contemporary art, allowing galleries, artists, and collectors from across Australia and internationally to remain connected. While we look forward to the return of the fair in its physical form, which will allow collectors to experience and appreciate the full aesthetic impact, detail and power of the art presented in person, Explore Sydney 2021 enabled us to exceed our sales targets and invite new clients to the gallery; as well as to forge new connections with emerging collectors and strengthen existing relationships between collectors and represented artists across Australia during a time of physical separation,” commented Beverly Knight, Director, Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne.
“Though I admit I am very much looking forward to the in-person experience, Explore Sydney Contemporary was a great initiative and successful experience for us. It emphasised how growing audiences in Australia are passionate about contemporary art and eager to participate in a fair that brings them a wide range of curated exhibitions and the ability to acquire those artworks,” said Ursula Sullivan, Co-Director, Sullivan+Strumpf, Sydney | Singapore.
“Despite the easing of Covid restrictions allowing for in person gallery visitation, we were really pleased to reach new collectors through Explore Sydney Contemporary. That being said, we missed being at Carriageworks for the past two years. Nothing compares to the buzz of having our broader arts community under the one roof. We can’t wait for SC22,” said David Hagger, Co-Director, Blackartprojects, Melbourne.
"We're really impressed with the design and search function of Explore Sydney Contemporary website this year. We have been able to extend our reach to interesting, new clients through the online platform, and overall, our presentation was very successful,” said Roslyn Oxley, Director, Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney.
“We are very excited that Explore Sydney Contemporary has enabled more collectors and institutions to know about the gallery and our terrific artists. It is important for us to sell works to new collectors in major capitals such as Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and recently, regional centres such as Newcastle. Onespace is now on several radars,” added John Stafford, Director, Onespace, Brisbane.
“It was exciting to reach a broad audience. We sold several artworks to new clients who were excited to discover Martin Browne Contemporary and find a whole new range of artists to explore. Despite some clients being saddened by the cancellation of a physical fair, the overall response to the online platform was very positive,” noted Martin Browne, Director, Martin Browne Contemporary, Sydney.
“We all know there is nothing like seeing art in the flesh. Sydney Contemporary did a spectacular job in bringing the beauty, wonder and spectacle of art on their easy to use digital platform. Having this art fair now, was a shot in the arm the Australian and New Zealand art scene needed during these times, and for all involved it was a wonderful success, introducing new and familiar collectors to art being made from the 1950s to now,” said Annette Larkin, Director, Annette Larkin Fine Art, Sydney.
The next edition of Sydney Contemporary will be a physical presentation from Thursday 8 September until Sunday 11 September 2022 (Collector Preview 7 September) at Carriageworks, Australia’s largest multi-arts venue. Tickets to the 2022 event are on sale now.
