A total of over 12,000 people came along to Kogarah to enjoy Georges River Council's sixth Uncontained Arts Festival across Friday 26 to Sunday 28 June.
Proudly supported by event sponsor Sydney Water, Uncontained is a favourite for both locals and visitors in Georges River. Over three nights, Belgrave Street, Kogarah turned into a vibrant open-air gallery. It was filled with creativity and sparked the imagination of all who attended. Visitors enjoyed a mix of light, colour and sound through interactive artworks and performances.
A key feature of Uncontained is the transformation of two plain shipping containers into immersive art experiences. Festivalgoers added clay flowers to Diego Faivre's 'The Blooming Vessel'. This transformed one container into a quirky technicolour garden.
The other container became 'Bunyala Street', inspired by artist Elder's experience of home, growing up in Carss Park. Elder said the chance to create his first installation artwork in his own neighbourhood was something he'd always treasure.
"My creative practice is usually photography and video, but with Bunyala Street, I wanted to combine these formats with objects collected in Carss Park…reflecting the vibrancy I feel towards this place - hopefully, in a way that others can appreciate too."
Local inspiration was also seen in UNSW Illuminate's interactive artwork 'Resonance'. It played on Kogarah's name, meaning 'place of reeds', with illuminated reeds that responded to touch.
Each night, the festival came alive with dance and drum performances. Kaleidoscope Dream delivered exciting and dynamic LED drum performances, entrancing onlookers.
Many murals created over the course of the three nights also added to the lively atmosphere. Local artist Clarice Tan painted a whimsical scene of horses charging forward into the festival. This is a sign of prosperity and well-wishes for all who view it.
International artist Beis showed off his skills with a detailed large-scale portrait of a woman smiling called 'Uncontained Joy'. His practice is inspired by human emotion, connection and storytelling. It is often explored through portraiture and expressive figures.
Indigenous artists Bindi Bindi Art created a 6-metre-long artwork called 'The Place Where We All Speak'. The mural features flowing pathways representing the many journeys we each take through life, while meeting places symbolise spaces of belonging, learning and shared stories. Created on Bidjigal Country by Ngemba and Wiradjuri artists Chloe Eastwood and Tay-la Shearley, the artwork is an invitation to gather, connect and recognise that although we all walk different paths, we all have a place within the story.
A family-friendly event, there was plenty for children to enjoy. Many could be seen ducking and weaving through 'Elysian', glowing arches by Atelier Sisu. These formed the festival's centrepiece. Children were also mesmerised by the large-scale puppet performances by Erth.
Visitors were encouraged to get creative. They contributed to a large bird's nest using recycled materials and made artworks alongside current Georges River Artist in Residence, Tahlia Henderson. Attendees also took part in the 'Playful Plate'. This was a hilarious and surprising restaurant experience. A hidden gem was the wearable glow-in-the-dark moth festivalgoers could make. This created an underlying sense of community with this shared experience.
Georges River Council Mayor Elise Borg said, "It's fantastic to see Kogarah come alive in such a vibrant and creative way through the Uncontained Arts Festival.
"Events like Uncontained not only showcase the talent of artists and performers. They also bring our community together to enjoying the wonderful atmosphere and each other's company.
"We are proud to support opportunities that elevate the arts and activate spaces where creativity can thrive and be shared with everyone."
Visit our Uncontained Arts Festival page.
