Art Works

In the very first episode of Art Works, host Namila Benson throws a pot with actor Uncle Jack Charles and interviews artist Atong Atem, while sculptor Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran explains his unusual sources of inspiration.

Namila Benson has a much-needed conversation about race and representation with Indigenous hip hop artist Ziggy Ramo and attempts to master the garamut drum with Airi Ingram.

Deni Todorovic looks at the career of fashion designer Mary Quant, developer Siobhan Reddy talks about the storytelling potential of video games and Soprano Natalie Aroyan offers a peek behind the scenes of Opera Australia.

Two perfect strangers go on a blind date to the MCA, Curator Kimberley Moulton and director Bruce Gladwin talk about how collaboration enhances creativity and presenter Alice Keath on ABC Classic's annual countdown.

We head backstage at Miss First Nation, the national competition for Indigenous drag queens. Musician Eric Avery talks about playing the violin for self-expression and we go behind the scenes of the Ramsay Art Prize.

Art Works deep dives into the 2021 Archibald Prize. We meet 1985 Archibald winner and the subject of Peter Wegner's winning entry, Guy Warren - who turns 100 this year, just like the prize itself.

We head to three of Australia's summer arts festivals in Adelaide, Perth and Sydney, before we unpack the idea of 'art-washing': when organisations, individuals and even countries use art to distract from negative actions.

We meet Sidney Nolan by way of artist Dean Cross, visit Powerhouse Ultimo's exhibition Eucalyptusdom, as it interrogates colonial narratives, and find out about the playful self-portraits of textile artist Adrienne Doig.

Namila Benson explores the Lorne Sculpture Biennale, and Eloise Fuss the 23rd Biennale of Sydney. Daina Sgarioto explains how she got into hand-tufting and we discover the timely story of 91-year-old artist Tamara Bekier.

We stop by "world music" festival WOMADelaide, and an augmented reality exhibition in Melbourne. We meet artist Alex Seton, who makes sculptures out of marble, and Punjabi Australian musicians Parvyn and her father Dya Singh.

We talk to Australia's representative at the Venice Biennale, Marco Fusinato; hear Aussie comedians talk politics; see Louise Coghill's photographs of the WA bushfires; and enter Frida Las Vegas's colourful "Frida-verse".

We visit the new Bundanon Art Museum plus Aretha Brown and Emma Donavan talk album covers. Graeme McCullough speaks to us about the disappearing art of signwriting and we explore the food and art exhibition, Simmer.

It's festival season! We catch everything from contemporary dance in Perth to Indigenous protest songs in Adelaide; from acrobatic Greek myths and puppets in Sydney to queer Australian elders on stage for WorldPride.

Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan reflect on their work for the AGNSW building; Thea Perkins returns to Arrernte Country ahead of her Carriageworks commission; Lisa Skerrett chats all things Oscars with Kate Jinx and Jamie Tram.

We see Women of Troy at Hobart's Ten Days on the Island festival; visit Burrup Peninsula's ancient petroglyphs with Perun Bonser; meet Sammy Hawker on the South Coast; and head to Hanging Rock with Nick Cave and Warren Ellis.

Thom Monckton's The Artist struggles to find his paintbrush; pianist Rose Riebl talks Icelandic influences; we meet Hobart street artist Jamin; and inflatable dancers take over Adelaide's Botanic Gardens as part of WOMAD.

Choreographer Lucy Guerin reflects on 20 years in NEWRETRO; sheep aspire to be human at Adelaide Festival; we meet sculptor Matt Sloane; and we talk comedy and diversity with Aurelia St Clair, Sashi Perera and Jason Tamiru.

Namila checks out Melbourne Now and meets artist Rel Pham; we head to HOTA for Pop Masters; translate architecture into music with Mia Salsjo as she composes the Sydney Harbour Bridge; and meet sculptor Jason Lim.