Sunday, with AP2

Toiling Monday-Saturday this week and next. "R/O/T/S" is my break in the middle. Definitely won't get a chance to write a summary. Use your imagination circuits.

"Crossing Boundaries" @ Town Hall

Part of the Lunar New Year celebrations, this free exhibition is better than some I've paid to see. Local artists from various Asian backgrounds working in various mediums... Pieces with a lot to say about identity and Australia's relationship with Asia... This photo-sculpture combo by Karina Wikamto moved me. Entitled "Oey Oen Hok - My Father", the guide told us it symbolises how a certain type of Chinese peanut always reminds the artist's dad of the old country and the sadness of being forced to give up his family name. (I think I've got that right.) The exhibition booklet talks about the tough outer shell/inner beauty of the peanut. Like I said: identity.

Tonight, with SC, TC and LPO

The holes in my shoes are widening

"Game Masters" @ Powerhouse Museum

Ignored the modern videogaming exhibits and spent 90 nostalgic minutes in the retro arcade. Couldn't get near the "Donkey Kong" or "Space Invaders" machines, which always had 2-3 peeps on them, and found "Defender" and "Missile Command" too difficult to progress far. Did well at "Asteroids" (using the UFO-hunting strategy), "Centipede" (using the tunnel-forming strategy), "Scramble" and the flawed semi-precious gem "Xevious". Did very well at "Elevator Action", clearing multiple buildings on my first attempt. Invested the most time into "Tempest" and - the absolute star of the show - "Robotron: 2084". Silently praised Eugene Jarvis for his shoot-'em-up genius. Remembered how marathons on stand-up cabinets required you to regularly switch stances so as to avoid cramp :-)


"Kings Cross, 1970-71: Photographs By Rennie Ellis" @ State Library

In 24 pics, Ellis (d. 2003) gives us prostitutes, strippers, spruikers and horny servicemen on leave. Groups of staff and patrons from the popular cafes of the day (and its hard to say who looks dodgier). Rosaleen "The Witch Of Kings Cross" Norton plus other local identities. And cultural snapshots from punters queueing for a folk club to painters at work in still-talked-about artists' commune the Yellow House. Worth a gander if you're passing and like seeing how much Australia has changed/hasn't changed at all.

Comical

"'Chain Reaction' is [BBC] Radio 4's long-running hostless chat show where last week's interviewee becomes this week's interviewer. The chain continues this week with comedian Frankie Boyle talking to comic book legend Grant Morrison."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03nt8bk

A wide-ranging and entertaining natter (though the digression on "magic" is mildly embarrassing). Funny how FB often seems the more serious party. Cheers to DL for the link.

"The Lion King" @ Capitol Theatre

The harmonious African-style singing! The masterful puppetry! The cavalcade of costumes and bonanza of backdrops! The CREATIVITY!