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Skywhales: The making of Skywhalepapa

Published 03 February 2021

The evolution of Patricia Piccinini's skywhales continues with Skywhalepapa. Created by Patricia Piccinini and hand-sewn by specialist hot air balloon manufacturers Cameron Balloons Ltd, Skywhalepapa debuts in Canberra skies February 2021.

Skywhales: Every heart sings is a Know My Name project and the third instalment of The Balnaves Contemporary Series.

Art & Artists


Featured

Patricia Piccinini

Skywhalepapa
2019-2020

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Matthew Barney
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American contemporary artist Matthew Barney introduces us to his film 'Redoubt' and the sculptural work 'Bason Creek Burn'.

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Skywhales: Every heart sings

Video still of hot air balloons floating in sky.

Published 05 February 2021

Patricia Piccinini's Skywhalepapa and Skywhale are monumental sculptures in the form of hot-air balloons – together they form a skywhale family.

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Talks & Lectures /  Video

Art Talk with Keir Winesmith
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image of a painting with accompanying text 'Keir Winesmith on Freda Robertshaw's Composition'

Published 16 September 2021

Keir Winesmith, Head of Digital discusses Freda Robertshaw’s 'Composition'.

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Art Talk with Rebecca Edwards
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Karla Dickens (born 1967)
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Art Talk with Peter Johnson
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image os a sculpture and accompanying text 'Peter Johnson on Sarah Lucas' TITTIPUSSIDAD'

Published 07 October 2021

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Talks & Lectures /  Video

Art Talk with Deborah Hart
Anne Wallace’s 'She is'

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Published 28 October 2021

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First Nations /  Video

Know My Name Conference Keynote Address: Genevieve Grieves
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Skywhales: Skywhalepapa prepares to fly

Video still of hot air balloon before take off.

Published 03 February 2021

On a magical misty morning in December 2020, Skywhalepapa arrived in Australia and was welcomed by Skywhale.

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a woman is sitting on a deck at a table with a small sculpture in front of her

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Project /  Video

We are the Skywhales Karaoke
Skywhales: Every heart sings

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Celebrate Patricia Piccinini's skywhale family and sing your heart out with animated karaoke of Jess Green's song, We are the Skywhales.

3 minutes
Project /  Video

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Video still of a graphic with the Skywhales and text reading Every Heart Sings Patricia Piccinini

Published 11 May 2021

Every Heart Sings follows the journey of the skywhale family and talks about nature, family, evolution, care and wonder.

Audio

Judith Nangala Crispin
Assembly (The Modelled Forms)

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10 minutes
Project /  Video

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Published 05 February 2021

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Young People /  Video

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Yuuma, Gurruburri

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The National Gallery acknowledges the First Peoples of this land and recognises their continuous connection to culture, community and Country

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