Tuesday 4th February 2020 - Cornelia Parker @ MCA

OK it's time to write about my first real event that I attended since landing back in Australia on my day off from work of course.

Everyone will know by now that I love the arts , both fine arts and performing arts.

This afternoon I took the train and light rail to Circular Quay to the MCA to see the Cornelia Parker exhibition located on the 3rd floor of the MCA.

It costs $24 for an adult entry ( members of the MCA free - unfortunately I let my MCA membership lapse) and I rate it 9/10 as it was art that everyone can relate to and understand. A photographic opportunity of  "Do you see what I see?" ; thought provoking "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" even listening to "The sounds of silence"  "Do you hear what I hear?" Even the brochure advises " Tips for viewing the exhibition
Take your time
There  is a a context and a process behind each work - look and look again, wander around" - the more you wander around and return to each work the more it makes one think  "Do you feel what or how I feel?"

Cornelia Parker is on @ MCA from 8th November 2019 - 16th February 2020

1. Thirty Pieces of Silver (A Tapestry) 2017/2019

2. Subconscious of a Monument 2001 - 2005

3. Cold Dark Matter: An Exploded View 1991

4. Chromskian Abstract 2007

I completely missed this artwork. It could have been any of the other pieces created by Cornelia Parker that I looked at but did not photograph. Opps sorry


5. Magna Carta (An Embroidery) 2015

6. Avoided Objects 1994 - 2019

I have to admit I didn't spend much time in this section of the exhibition I only took a few photos.


7. War Room 2015

As part of the Sydney Festival in mid January there was a piano concert performed in this room. I was at work or overseas amd therefore was unable to attend it. You can just imagine the atmosphere it would have created. This was one of my favourite works by Cornelia Parker however to appreciate the full extent of it, you also need to watch her video of War Machine

8. Thirty Pieces of Silver 1988 - 89

To appreciate the above piece of work more I recommend that you view the tapestry with the same title first. I have to admit that I think I favour the tapestry more.

9. Left Right & Centre 2017
Unfortunately I didn't take any photos or videos of this work as it was a video. Basically it was drone footage inside the House of Commons, Westminster where there were sets of tabloid newspapers neatly stacked in piles on top of the main central bench. As the drone flew over them to photograph them, the tabloids started to blow all over the empty benches and floors creating a mess within the House of Commons. This represents the state of politics of the UK - from Conservative tabloids to Centrists and Left Winged broadsheets mixed in with Bexit, mass immigration and terrorism issues of present - not to mention the Corona Virus ( no I should mot mention that as it hasn't quite reached the UK yet but it has reached Germany thank you Brexit :) ).

My only after thought of the video was "Who was going to be the one(s) to clean this all up?" The House of Commons will never be completely clean again - there will always be the need of constant maintenance as there will always be a sneaky page of tabloid hiding underneath an empty bench!


A quick look at the Luna New Year giant inflatables and sculptures on this side of Circular Quay - so uninteresting this year , it was just a rehash of last year's sculptures relocated around Circular Quay as there are a set number of Chinese Zodiac signs except with one new additional sculpture of the rotating rats in First Fleet Park.

Last year's pig sculpture 

Last year's lion inflatable - maybe not but I have seen it somewhere before

Definitely last year's monkey sculpture!

( refer my previous blog & Facebook post)

Last year's dragon inflatable

The new rotating rat sculpture in First Fleet Park

The year of The Rat is off to a bad start - No wonder there is the Corona Virus, probably brought on by the eating of rats around China and poor hygiene. This huge Chinese Cruise ship docked at the overseas passenger terminal didn't help the spread of the virus either. I saw lots of people boarding and alighting this cruise ship but no masks or health checks just security at a gate.

Work tomorrow.