While Sydney Contemporary has come and gone for another year, Carriageworks isn’t yet done regarding large-scale art events in Sydney. Liveworks Festival, set for October 23 to 27, will again fill the unique space with a collection of performance art pieces and experimental works from artists across Australia and the Asia Pacific.

Curated by Performance Space, the Liveworks Festival this year anchors itself on themes of care and intimacy, asking questions on how we hold each other in collapse, and how we find release and joy in the unexpected.

Marcus Whale will perform a visceral solo show called Ecstasy, dissecting the uncommon relationship between rave culture and Christian Liturgy. Daley Rangi and Luke George will each present intimate performance pieces designed to encourage viewers to rethink their relationship with the environment.
Emily Parsons-Lord and Shan Turner-Carroll work together on a piece called It’s Already Happened, Hossesi will wrangle a full ensemble for a “vibrant theatrical experience.” And Oli Mathiesen has an endurance-based dance work called The Butterly Who Flew Into The Rave.

And that’s just some of the stacked program, which will stretch across five days with engaging performances for all ages.

A heavier focus on wider representation, queer identity, and a few explorations of social norms will be led by The Bloom’s Jessie McCall, while other local artists turn in what seems to be some of their most meaningful work to date. In a changing world, sitting at the forefront of technology, something like this is not only remarkably unique, it’s essential.

Even if you’re only going for the inspiration.