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Inner Sanctum description

“Think of imagination as a place of refuge and sanctuary.” – José Da Silva 

The 18th Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art offers an encounter with artists and poets interested in the human condition. Inner Sanctum unfolds across exhibitions, performances and talks that explore our engagement with the world and each other.  

Curated by José Da Silva, Inner Sanctum offers a snapshot of contemporary Australia that is reflective and hopeful. It provides a setting where art and poetry enliven the social imagination and help us understand the complexities of human experience. Here, the idea of an inner sanctum illustrates the private or sacred spaces we create and the faculty of imagination that allows us to see culture and society differently. 

Inner Sanctum features new works by Clara Adolphs, James Barth, Christopher Bassi, Seth Birchall, Kaye Brown, Jacobus Capone, George Cooley, Ali Cobby Eckermann, Lawrence English, Ruha Fifita, Teelah George, Paul Knight, Kate Llewellyn x Adelaide Chamber Singers, Jessica Loughlin, Peter Maloney, Jazz Money, Nik Pantazopoulos, Lillian O’Neil, Khaled Sabsabi, Marikit Santiago, Vivienne Shark LeWitt, Tina Stefanou, Heather B. Swann and Jasmine Togo-Brisby. 

José Da Silva brings over 20 years of curatorial experience dedicated to supporting and sharing, in his words, “the joy and wonder of artists”. He is the Director of UNSW Galleries, Sydney, before which he curated projects at the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art.  

The Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art remains the pre-eminent and longest-running survey of contemporary Australian art. As a vital component of the Adelaide Festival since 1990, the 18th Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art builds on its reputation and commitment to supporting and celebrating innovative and ambitious practices. 

Presented by the Art Gallery of South Australia in association with the Adelaide Festival, with generous support received from the Art Gallery of South Australia Biennial Ambassadors Program and Principal Donor The Balnaves Foundation. This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body and by the Exhibitions and Craft Strategy, an initiative of the Australian, State and Territory Governments.

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