InterGenerate Presentation

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended our InterGenerate Presentation.

Since April, the InterGenerate artists have been in conversation with their mentors, deepening relationships while delving into the depths and potentials of their artistic practices. The culmination of the InterGenerate arts and cultural mentorship program was a wonderful presentation co-presented by the Sydney Opera House at the Centre for Creativity.

Congratulations to these Western Sydney artists mentored by leading creatives:

• Lindy Lee mentoring Angie Pai
• Khaled Sabsabi mentoring An.Other Collective (Wasielah Noorsjamsi, Vina Purwantoro, Della Indradi, Nailah Masagos)
• Anandavalli mentoring Lingalayam Dancers (Vineetha Menon, Dhanya Karthikeyan, Aditi Manoharan)

Presentation

Guru and Indian classical dance icon, Anandavalli, worked with Lingalayam Dancers, Vineetha Menon, Dhanya Karthieyan, and Aditi Manoharan. Vineetha and Dhanya performed an experimental exploration of dance that fused classical dance vocabulary with the evocative music of Ghazals and Qawwali. Vineetha’s performance was a poignant and soul-stirring interpretation of a Ghazal by Sufi legend Abida Parveen, capturing the dual essence of love and devotion through surrender and acceptance. Dhanya, alongside Aditi, presented a dynamic exploration of form set to the Qawwali ‘Man Kunto Maula’ performed by Abi Sampa and the Orchestral Qawwali.

An.Other Collective provided an insightful glimpse into their creative processes through their artists’ journals, revealing themes centered on community, faith, culture, and identity.

Vina Purwantoro discussed ideas of surrender and grief, finding solace and salvation in Nature, birdsong, and sky watching. Della Indrada explored Indonesian cultural identity in her recent work with the ACE Parrallax project. Nailah Masagos shared her approach to deconstructing elements of her architectural practice through considered mark-making; Wasiela Noorjamsi presented her process of mapping The Realm of Souls and exploring core Islamic cultural tenets. This work was guided by their mentor, acclaimed artist Khaled Sabsabi, who supported the Collective with studio visits and discussions throughout the project.

Angie Pai’s collaboration with Lindy Lee resulted in a range of textile and Chinese seal works that reflect their shared Taoist values and beliefs. Angie recounted her enriching experiences working with Lindy in her Northern Rivers studio, and she plans to continue exploring themes of restorative practices and stability.

Acknowledgements

InterGenerate is a project by Diversity Arts Australia and key partners. The InterGenerate Presentation event was originally commissioned by the Sydney Opera House Trust. The project receives additional support from Creative Australia, Create NSW, City of Sydney, and organisational partner, Arts and Cultural Exchange.

The event was catered by Plate It Forward, a local social enterprise that supports migrant and refugee communities, aiming to address inequality through the universal love of food.

Look out for coverage to come from videographer Phoenix Eye Films, photographer Justine Da Jose and our StoryCasters team (Karen Leong, Pratha Nagpal, and Maybelline San Juan).

The next phase of this project will involve launching a social media campaign to spotlight the artists, their work, and the insights gained from this experience. Additionally, we will start planning the development of a new iteration of the project.

Shout-out to the InterGenerate DARTS team, Paschal Daantos Berry (Creative Director), Carielyn Tunion (Creative Producer) and Lena Nahlous (CEO & Executive Producer).

Special thanks to the Sydney Opera House and the wonderful team who worked on this event: Kelly Dezart-Smith, Kara Nissen, Athena Vlotis, Peter Loxton, Claire Fahie, Caitlyn Sinclair, Claire Gammon and the SOH Events team.