UNVEILINGS / Wonder If

Transforming an iconic heritage building through experimental choreography and visual arts

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Critical Path will transform the iconic, heritage building, The Drill Hall, with an experimental choreography and visual arts performance, UNVEILINGS / Wonder If by Katya Petetskaya on Saturday 23 November at 6pm. This event is free and proudly supported by Woollahra Council.

Petetskaya is a multidisciplinary artist working across painting and performance art. Her upbringing in the former Soviet Union during the turbulent 1990s fostered a critical approach to narratives about the status quo. Petetskaya uses art to explore alternative forms of knowledge, existence and ways of understanding the world.

During UNVEILINGS / Wonder If, audiences will be guided through an immersive walkthrough of The Drill Hall as re-imagined by Petetskaya and her collaborator, sound artist Gail Priest. From vacuum cleaners to drapes, chairs, lights, mirrors and the venue’s acoustics, the possibilities are endless for the artist.

In Petetskaya’s words, ‘The project reimagines The Drill Hall not as a passive backdrop, but an active collaborator in the creative process. The live performance blurs the boundaries between the performer, medium and audience.’

The Drill Hall was built during the 1890s for the Naval Brigade. It was part of HMAS Rushcutter – the oldest existing naval base in Australia. Since 2005, The Drill Hall has been home to Critical Path as a dance research facility for independent Australian choreographers.

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FROM THE ARTIST

"This interdisciplinary work at The Drill Hall blends performance art, visual arts, sound, and the venue's unique characteristics, challenging traditional roles of performance spaces. By integrating Object Choreography, active audience participation, and ‘silent soundscapes', the project reimagines The Drill Hall not as a passive backdrop, but as an active collaborator in the creative process. 

This live performance blurs the boundaries between performer, medium, and audience. In collaboration with sound artist Gail Priest, curated ‘silent soundscapes' and the dynamic potential of performance spaces are tested, offering an immersive and experimental experience.”

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This project is proudly supported by Woollahra Council and Critical Path

Critical Path respectfully acknowledges the Gadigal and Birrabirragal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional owners of the land where the organisation is based.

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Image: Katya Petetskaya, HEAD WHALE FIGURE TRANSFIGURE, 2023, live performance; Blue Mountains Theatre; NSW; photo: Maja Baska

For any enquiries, please contact Producer, Critical Path - Dylan Goh - at producer@criticalpath.org.au or 02 9362 4023.