In its 30th year, the Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art has announced its theme for 2020 and a line-up of trailblazing Australian artists.

Words and photograph Ben Kelly

Celebrating 30 years in 2020, the Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art is the nation’s longest-running survey of contemporary Australian Art. 

Leigh Robb, curator of contemporary art at the Art Gallery of South Australia, has the prestigious role of curating the Adelaide Biennial in its anniversary year. 

Each iteration of the biennial exhibition responds to a different theme or principle, with the 2020 exhibition titled Monster Theatres – inspired by the work of more than 20 provocative Australian artists. 

Leigh says their works include urgent warnings about the state of the world around us.

“Artists are invited to make visible the monsters of now,” Leigh says. “The etymology of the word monster comes from monere – to warn. The most poignant works of art are often warnings made manifest.”

Having studied psychology and a master’s degree in art history, Leigh has held prominent roles at galleries in Venice and London. This week she has unveiled the line-up of artists that have been selected to participate in the curatorial event.

“The Biennial will open up an arena of action, a circus of the dark and the absurd, a shadow play between truth and fiction,” Leigh says.

Some of the local artists to look out for are Aldo Iacobelli, Pierre Mukeba, Yhonnie Scarce, Julia Robinson and Mark Valenzuela.

Presented throughout the Art Gallery of South Australia, as well as Adelaide Botanic Gardens and its Museum of Economic Botany, the 2020 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art: Monster Theatres will be presented from February 29 to June 8 as the key visual art offering of the Adelaide Festival. 

See today’s InDaily for an extensive interview with Leigh Robb about the artist line-up for the 2020 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art.

Announced this week, the artists are:

Abdul Abdullah (NSW)
Mike Bianco (WA)
Polly Borland (VIC)
Michael Candy (QLD)
Megan Cope (VIC)
Erin Coates and Anna Nazzari (WA)
Julian Day (NSW)
Karla Dickens (NSW)
Mikala Dwyer (VIC)
Brent Harris (VIC)
Aldo Iacobelli (SA)
Pierre Mukeba (SA)
David Noonan (VIC)
Mike Parr (NSW)
Julia Robinson (SA)
Yhonnie Scarce (SA)
Garry Stewart and Australian Dance Theatre (SA)
Mark Valenzuela (SA)
Stelarc (VIC)
Kynan Tan (NSW)
Willoh S. Weiland (TAS)
Judith Wright (QLD)