“Cerith Wyn Evans ….in light of the visible” – A Luminous Journey at MCA Australia
24 July,2024 Sydney -Publicity content generated by Google Gemini AI /Formatted and checked by editorial staff
The Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA Australia) is currently hosting a landmark exhibition, “Cerith Wyn Evans ….in light of the visible,” running up to to October 19, 2025. This marks the first comprehensive museum exhibition of the acclaimed artist’s work in the Asia-Pacific region, offering Sydney audiences a profound and immersive encounter with his distinctive creations of light and sound.
Cerith Wyn Evans (born 1958, Wales) is one of today’s most significant contemporary artists, known for his ability to distill complex ideas from music, literature, philosophy, and art history into experimental and exuberant environments.His work challenges conventional notions of perception and meaning, inviting viewers to engage with art in a deeply contemplative and multi-sensory way.
A Garden of Light, Sound, and Thought:
Conceived as if the audience were strolling through a garden, the exhibition encourages visitors to meditate on their own passage through space and time. Wyn Evans’s art often explores the relationships between language and space, time and perception, thought and meaning. What emerges is a series of compelling experiences that hover between the material and immaterial.
Exhibition Highlights:
The exhibition features a significant selection of major works produced over the past 15 years, many of which have never before been seen in Australia. Key pieces include
- Composition for 37 Flutes (2018): An award-winning sculpture where 37 glass pipes ‘inhale’ and breathe sound into the gallery, creating an ethereal and captivating auditory experience.
- F=O=U=N=T=A=I=N (2020): A monumental architectural wall of white neon, standing three metres high and ten metres wide, which audiences are invited to walk around and through. This work, often incorporating text, exemplifies Wyn Evans’s fascination with language and its translation into light and form.
- Neon Forms (After Noh) series: Large-scale, three-dimensional “drawings in space” using neon light. Inspired by the precise choreography of traditional Japanese Noh theatre, these works trace the movements of performers as gestures suspended in space, creating energetic and fluid forms that transform the viewer’s perception.
Site-Specific Works for Sydney:
For the MCA Australia exhibition, Wyn Evans has created several new site-specific works that deeply engage with the unique light, soundscapes, and natural environment of Warrane (Sydney Harbour). These include:
- Still Life (In course of arrangement…) (2025): A work incorporating native plants, drawing a connection to the local flora.
- Sydney Drift (2025): A major neon light installation that responds directly to the Sydney context.
- Two Gravity Gongs (2025): A piece where the distinctive sounds of the precinct resonate through the MCA Australia’s galleries, further immersing visitors in the local soundscape.
The exhibition also strategically positions Wyn Evans’s acclaimed neon works to be illuminated by the natural light of Circular Quay, allowing them to subtly shift and change as light patterns evolve throughout the day and over the course of the exhibition.
Beyond the Visual:
Wyn Evans’s work is characterized by formal precision and is often developed in relation to the specific exhibition site.He challenges the assumption that sculpture must be a static, physical object, often employing ephemeral substances like air and time as primary materials. The exhibition is designed to be a “polyphonic immersion into a world of light, sound and pure poetry,” promising to amaze and enchant visitors.
Public Programs:
To complement the exhibition, MCA Australia is offering a diverse range of public programs throughout its run. These include:
- Curator Tours: Opportunities to gain deeper insights into key works with exhibition curators.
- Winter Walks: City Pathways: Guided walks through the city, inspired by Wyn Evans’s work, encouraging participants to observe shifts of light and sound in places the artist recorded for the exhibition.
- Music and Movement Performances: Sonic and dance improvisations inspired by Wyn Evans’s luminous sculptures, featuring the Catchment Dance Collective and musicians from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
“Cerith Wyn Evans ….in light of the visible” is MCA Australia’s major winter exhibition, offering a rare opportunity to experience the work of a truly innovative contemporary artist. It’s a journey that invites contemplation, challenges perception, and promises to leave a lasting impression.
Location and Admission:
- Location: Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Level 3 Galleries, 140 George Street, The Rocks.
- Dates: June 6 – October 19, 2025
- Admission: An All Access ticket is required. Free for MCA Members, Australian tertiary students, and youth under 18s.
