The Turning at Gallery Lane Cove: An In-Person Experience Not To Be Missed – Closing 2nd April 2022

Immersive experiences at galleries and museums have become very popular in recent years. Much of this is achieved by high-end technologies working on a large scale to create a spectacle.

A Different Type of Immersion

The Turning-whisper to the silent earth is a different take on immersion as contemporary art.

It combines the analogue with the digital, juxtaposing physical and digital materialities. With a richly layered approach to content, The Turning responds intimately to the site and geography of the exhibition. Designed as an environment rather than a simple arrangement of artworks in a white cube, the exhibition responds to the unique architecture of the space, such as its moveable walls and transformed the gallery into a darkened space for an immersive experience of light, sound, moving image and sculpture.

Light Refraction Mechanisms

Central to the exhibition is two large scale light refraction mechanisms.  These mechanisms build on the work of the early pioneers of cinema whose magic “lanterns” (such as the zoetrope and the praxinoscope) transform the spaces in which they were exhibited, surrounding the viewer with animated light.

Inspiration – Greek Myths

The Turning is inspired by The Sonnets to Orpheus by Rainer Maria Rilke. Written in 1924, they are a homage to the Greek Myth of Orpheus – an ancient story whose key themes of human frailty, loss and power continue to resonate today.

For this exhibition, the myth is an allegory for the fragile state of interdependence that exists today between each other and our environment.  It draws from the rich metaphors of the sonnets and in so doing, evoke the unique rhythms and flows found in estuary environments such as the Lane Cove River in the creation of installation “assets” – light sculptures, photo-media, animation, film scapes and sound compositions. The assembly of these assets is carefully choreographed in the gallery space to make evocative relationships creating a new environment within the gallery – a timeless, meditative experience designed to resonate with different audiences.

Being Present

In an age when the digital is often equated with screen-time and online consumption, The Turning emphasises the importance of in-person, physical experiences through the spatialisation of animations, video projections and sound in combination with sculpture and sound.  All this is made possible by a highly interdisciplinary way of collaboration. The artist collaborative  tranSTURM includes, media artists, animators, sound artists, choreographers and architects. Their exhibition experience includes festivals such as VIVID Sydney and outdoor venues at the Newington Armoury and Sydney Olympic Park.

Free Entry

This is a unique exhibition that has to be viewed in person for a full experience. Visit The Turning-whisper to the silent earth at Gallery Lane Cove before it closes on Saturday 2 April 2.30 pm. Entry is free. The gallery is open weekdays 10 am-4.30 pm.

Guided Tour and Panel Tickets

Join the artists for a free guided tour on Saturday 2 April at 11 am followed by a panel discussion and Q&A on the Rainer Maria Rilke and Lane Cove River inspirations.  Book here for panel tickets.

The Turning-whisper to the silent earth is a Gallery Lane Cove curated program funded by Create NSW’s annual organisation grant.

tranSTURM – Chris Bowman (Creative Director) in partnership with Anita Kelly, and in collaboration with Mike Day, Rachel Walls and Rachael Priddel with original sound composition by Roger Mills. 3D animation by Holger Deuter and Jason Benedek animating the choreography of Dean Walsh.

The information on the exhibition was written by Rachael Kiang Manager & Curator Gallery Lane Cove

Enrol in an Art Class or Workshop – Gallery Lane Cove

Gallery Lane Cove + Creative Studios is located in the building directly across from the Lane Cove Library.  Melbourne might have the Paris End of Collins Street, but Lane Cove has the Cultural Precinct in Longueville Road (Gallery Lane Cove + Creative Studios,  Lane Cove Library and the Living and Learning Centre all located on Longueville Road).

Gallery Lane Cove provides the whole community with opportunities to attend art workshops and term classes in printmaking (including screen printing), sewing, jewellery making, knitting, life drawing, painting and pottery.  ITC is especially excited about going to pottery/ceramic classes (ITC became obsessed with pottery after watching the Great British Pottery Throwdown – like MasterChef for potters).

If you would like to know the courses coming up and be notified when there is a new course Email Gallery Lane Cove and put 2022 Workshops in the subject line.  They will then get back to you and let you know what is coming up.  Find out more here.

School Holiday Workshops – Gallery Lane Cove

Book here 

If you would like to use a course credit or Creative Kids Voucher towards any workshops please email us at [email protected]

Contact Details and Hours

Opening Hours:  10:00am – 4:30pm Monday – Saturday and 10.00 to 2.30pm

Gallery Lane Cove and In the Cove are community partners – Gallery Lane Cove is a not for profit organisation and we offer a discounted ITC Business Supporter package to them – this article is part of that arrangement.