The Violet Ballet

Past Exhibition
2 March - 27 April 2019
Three projector screens with different videos playing. One screen shows a male and female dancer in front of colourful fabric, the second screen, shows a female dancer and the third screen a silhouette cutter of a face.
Three projector screens with different videos playing. One screen shows a male and female dancer in front of colourful fabric, the second screen, shows a female dancer and the third screen a silhouette cutter of a face.

Encounter the work of one Australia’s most significant contemporary artists, Sally Smart, as she makes a welcome return to Adelaide with her immersive new installation, The Violet Ballet.

When

2 March to 27 April 2019

Access

Widely known for her large-scale, richly-coloured assemblage installations, Smart has carved out a world-renowned career that spans more than three decades. The Violet Ballet extends on Smart’s distinctive practice, examining the extraordinary legacy of the Ballet Russes – in particular its macabre dance piece Chout (Tale of the Buffoon) – alongside traditional the Indonesian Wayang character Punokawan.

Through textiles, costumes, dance, film and shadow puppetry, The Violet Ballet presents a dynamic mise en scene that brings avant-garde performance into conversation with the entwined legacies of colonialism and orientalism.

Feature Image: Sally Smart, The Violet Ballet (2019), exhibition view, ACE Open. Courtesy the artist and Sarah Scout Presents, Melbourne. Photography by Sam Roberts.

  • On a blue wall hangs five figures, of mismatched textiles with dancers feet.
  • Three projector screens with different videos playing. One screen shows a male and female dancer in front of colourful fabric, the second screen, shows a female dancer and the third screen a silhouette cutter of a face.
  • On a blue wall hangs a collage of textiles, with a pair of dancers feet protruding from the bottom.
  • A black and white image of five females, the image is viewed from behind and cut below their shoulders, each women has real textiles of hair pinned to the image.
  • A very tall, bright, multicoloured patterned curtain hangs in a dark room
  • A multicoloured, patterned curtain hangs in a dark room
On a blue wall hangs five figures, of mismatched textiles with dancers feet.
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Lead Artists

Sally Smart

Sally Smart is represented by Sarah Scout Presents, Melbourne.

Sally Smart acknowledges support from The University of Melbourne, where she is currently Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow. This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.

ACErlu tampinthi, ngadlu Kaurna yartangka inparrinthi. Kaurna miyurna yaitya yarta-mathanya Wama Tarntanyaku. Parnaku yailtya, parnaku tapa purruna, parnaku yarta ngadlurlu tampinthi. Yalaka Kaurna miyurna itu yailtya, tapa purruna, yarta kuma puru martinthi, puru warri-apinthi, puru tangka martulayinthi. Ngadlurlu tampinthi purkana pukinangku, yalaka.

ACE respectfully acknowledges the Kaurna people are the traditional custodians of the Adelaide Plains. We recognise and respect their cultural heritage, beliefs and relationship with the land. We acknowledge that they are of continuing importance to the Kaurna people living today. We acknowledge Elders past and present.

ACErlu tampinthi, ngadlu Kaurna yartangka inparrinthi. Kaurna miyurna yaitya yarta-mathanya Wama Tarntanyaku. Parnaku yailtya, parnaku tapa purruna, parnaku yarta ngadlurlu tampinthi. Yalaka Kaurna miyurna itu yailtya, tapa purruna, yarta kuma puru martinthi, puru warri-apinthi, puru tangka martulayinthi. Ngadlurlu tampinthi purkana pukinangku, yalaka.

ACE respectfully acknowledges the Kaurna people are the traditional custodians of the Adelaide Plains. We recognise and respect their cultural heritage, beliefs and relationship with the land. We acknowledge that they are of continuing importance to the Kaurna people living today. We acknowledge Elders past and present.

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