Australia’s premier convention, exhibition and entertainment venue launches a commemorative book to celebrate one of the world’s most significant venue art collections
International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) celebrated last night with the launch of a limited edition commemorative book, ICC Sydney Art Collection: A Curated Collection of Art to Celebrate Sydney, as one of the world’s most prestigious venue collections was reintroduced to the Sydney community.
Displayed across the convention centre’s main theatre foyer spaces, to highlight their importance and create a gallery-like experience, as well as across the Darling Harbour precinct, the collection of more than 30 local and international works that celebrate Sydney, its harbour and its magnificent foreshores is one of the most significant of any convention venue.
The impressive collection includes major pieces from Brett Whiteley, John Olsen, Sandra Leveson, Lloyd Rees and Tim Storrier, alongside key works from esteemed Aboriginal artists such as Gloria Tamerre Petyarre and Long Jack Phillipus Tjakamarra, highlighting the significance of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage to the venue.
The cultural inspiration extends into the public domain, where a raft of artworks pay homage to Sydney and showcase changing interpretations of Australia’s culture and history. Here, recent public commissions include Habitat from Janet Laurence, Entelekheia from Danie Mellor, and data.scape by international electronic composer and visual artist, Ryoji Ikeda.
CEO of ICC Sydney, Geoff Donaghy, said the venue is proud to be the custodian of such a dynamic range of artwork, which reflects its place within the broader cultural fabric of the city.
“While the collection is varied and includes both prized works commissioned for the first convention and exhibition centre in Darling Harbour and key contemporary additions, the thread which pulls all of them together comes from the cultural life of Sydney, where artists have responded in some way to the city, its harbour and its foreshores.