Storm Approaching Wangi and Other Desires

Storm Approaching Wangi and Other Desires will bring art and dance together against the stunning backdrop of the lake at the Multi-Arts Pavilion, mima.

Perhaps one of artist James Drinkwater's most ambitious collaborative projects to date, this interdisciplinary contemporary ballet work explores Sir William Dobell's history and relationship to Lake Macquarie through the lens of the master's epic landscape painting, Storm Approaching Wangi.

Working alongside talented choreographers Belle Beasley and Skip Willcox, and innovative composer Joseph Franklin, Drinkwater embraces the ethos of the world famous Ballets Russes. Widely regarded as the most influential ballet company of the 20th century, it promoted ground-breaking collaborations among creatives, all at the forefront of their fields. Among them were composers Stravinsky, Debussy, Satie and Ravel; artists Kandinsky, Picasso and Matisse; and costume designers including Coco Chanel.

Drinkwater has long been inspired by ballet as an artform, and began taking lessons in 2013 to extend his practice both pictorially and lyrically. This experience with dance has influenced his iconography and use of colour for almost a decade, beginning with his early body of work The Boy and the Ballet. Ten years on, Drinkwater’s fascination with the form has been made a reality through collaboration with Beasley and Willcox. Both born and raised in Newcastle, the pair have worked locally and internationally as dancers, and have been engaged by Drinkwater to create the body of this dramatic and moving new ballet. The performance will feature an original score by talented Victorian-based composer and experimental musician Joseph Franklin.

Storm Approaching Wangi and Other Desires is brought to you by MAP mima presents, a series of curated performances that highlight the unique nature of MAP mima as a multi-purpose performance space that integrates art and technology.

Photos by Ben Adams