Latest news with #QueenslandArtGallery
Time Business News
07-05-2025
- Time Business News
First Time in Australia? Here's What to Know Before You Go
Source: Australia is one of the countries that is probably on everyone's bucket list. It's a place that feels like a world of its own. You get to look at wild landscapes, adorable (and sometimes terrifying) wildlife, and multicultural cities. It's stunning, welcoming, and way bigger than most people expect. So, if it's your first time visiting Australia, a bit of preparation goes a long way in making sure your trip is smooth, unforgettable, and full of fun. Here are a few things you should know before you begin planning for the trip: One of the biggest surprises for first-time visitors is how spread out everything is. Australia isn't a place where you can casually road trip from city to city in a day. Flying between major cities is normal here, so domestic flights are your best bet if you're short on time. Pick your regions carefully. If you're only visiting for a couple of weeks, don't try to cram in every city. Focus on the east coast (Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane), or go for a nature-focused trip up north around the Great Barrier Reef. Australia's seasons are opposite to those in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer is from December to February, and winter starts from June to August. Plus, the climate can vary a lot between states. Sydney, for example, has pretty mild winters, while Melbourne is known for its weather mood swings. It's also normal to get four seasons in one day in Melbourne. If you want beach weather and long days, spring (September to October) and autumn (March to May) are perfect for exploring without the summer crowds and high prices. Yes, there are spiders and snakes, but honestly, you're more likely to see a kangaroo on the roadside or sleepy koalas in trees. Australia's wildlife is one of its biggest draws. Don't miss the opportunities to see koalas in the wild, penguins in Victoria, and whales along the east coast. If you're really into animals, check out wildlife parks like Featherdale near Sydney or Healesville Sanctuary in Victoria. Most international visitors land in Sydney, and for good reason. It has iconic spots like the Opera House and Bondi Beach, plus vibrant food, art, and nightlife experiences. And if you want a more relaxed way to soak in Sydney's coast charm, try taking one of the many cruises from Sydney that explore nearby areas like the South Pacific islands, New Zealand, or even tropical Queensland. It's the perfect way to combine adventure with relaxation, and they're ideal for first-time visitors who want to see a lot without the stress of planning. Melbourne is your go-to for culture and coffee. If you love street art and food markets, you'll fall for this city fast. You can also visit historic sites and Victorian buildings. Brisbane is a popular city among tourists and visitors all year round because of its pleasant weather. One of the must-visit places in Brisbane is the Queensland Art Gallery. If you want a quieter and less crowded place to enjoy, Perth is the perfect city. With a lower population and popularity compared to the other cities, it's ideal for beach lovers who want a calmer experience. The currency is AUD (Australian Dollars), and tipping isn't expected like in the US – though rounding up or leaving tips for good service is appreciated. Credit cards are widely accepted. Aussies are generally friendly, but also big on personal space and calling things how they are. So, make sure you're polite and patient when chatting with the locals. They're also very friendly and informal, so don't be surprised if a stranger calls you 'mate' at the bus stop. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
ABC News
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Acclaimed artist Tony Albert tells Virginia Trioli how he gives 'Aboriginalia' new power
The plaster warriors line the entrance to artist Tony Albert's rainforest studio, bristling with threat — except, they are only a foot tall, indignantly aiming their spears at my knees. I wince: here is a collection of some of the most awfully familiar, awfully racist bric-a-brac of the suburban 1960s: when white Australians decorated their gardens with figures of "natives", hunting among the hydrangeas. Photo shows On pink background, Virginia Trioli faces side and smiles, with text: Creative Types with Virginia Trioli. Multi-media visual artist Tony Albert calls these kitsch figures "Aboriginalia" and he collects them with a kind of calm and good humour, in the face of a mid-century legacy of purloining Indigenous imagery and faces, and turning them into décor. Some of it is weird: the once-highly popular trend of painting black Australians on black velvet; other stuff is as upsetting as it can get — the highly common household item of an ashtray featuring an Indigenous face. Tony takes old objects and gives them new power, as in this 2016 work, 'Woman hunting' (from the 'Mid Century Modern' series). ( Supplied: Queensland Art Gallery|Gallery of Modern Art/© Tony Albert ) Yes, we ashed out our cigarettes on the faces of the oldest continuing culture in the world. And Tony seeks out all these objects, gathers them up, uses them in his art and gives them another voice. "I like to think they've got their own autonomy and their own voice now," Tony says. "Everything will eventually be used in some way, shape or form. " I'd love to take the whole [lot] out of circulation. " Giving pieces new power I spent two days with Tony for an episode of Creative Types, in his airy, purpose-built Brisbane studio, and at his second home, the Queensland Art Gallery, where he worked as a curatorial assistant before committing to his practice full time. In the years since, he has become one of Australia's most awarded and recognised contemporary artists, taking his vast collections of Indigenous paraphernalia and turning them into works of great power and effect. Tony began collecting "Aboriginalia" bric-a-brac as a child. They would become the hallmark of his powerful later work. ( Supplied: Aaron Smith ) His award-winning, landmark work, Ash on Me, which features those ashtrays, showed he was an artist to be reckoned with. "I've literally had people, from the army or grown men … in tears in front of them," Tony says. "The understanding of it really has an impact. And people have shared that with me, which is really beautiful." Loading Instagram content At any one time, Tony has hundreds of searches live on eBay, his feelers out for all of these collectibles. He's had to turn off notifications. Otherwise, his phone will ping all day with new items. He's been collecting since he was a child, visiting op-shops with his sister and gathering objects of people who looked like him. "I assumed they were kind of famous people because how do you get on a plate?" Re-used in Tony's installations or wall-pieces, the objects take on a new power and significance, their autonomy and voice no longer "pre-prescribed to them through non-Indigenous voice". Anger and optimism Tony's star continues to rise: Thames and Hudson has included him in a lavish book called Collecting: Living with Art, and alongside some of Australia's most glamorous households are Tony's vast collections of "Aboriginalia". He was appointed director of the 5th National Indigenous Art Triennial, which opens in December, and some of his most beautiful photographs — of kids in the Aboriginal community Warakurna in WA, posing as superheroes — will be included in the world's longest-running and most prestigious photography festival, Les Recontres d'Arles. On Creative Types, Tony explains how his practice takes in photography, installation, video and sculpture. ( Supplied: Aaron Smith ) It's a successful time for Tony, but like other high-profile Indigenous Australians, he has had to cop the blow from the "no" vote in the Voice referendum and try to move forward. "Optimism in the face of adversity is how I managed to survive through life. And it's a personal choice I think I've made. I've been angry. I still am angry, but the way in which I choose to carry myself and to be able to deal with and live in the society I do is through optimism. "[It's] the simplest answer for me. And it works." Watch Creative Types with Virginia Trioli: Tony Albert on Tuesday April 29 at 8.30pm on ABC TV, or stream the whole series now on .
