In Winter of 2023, things got very Strange in Perth as 78,000 people dared to leave their homes and explore the abandoned and unknown corners of Perth City in search of something weird and wonderful.
The good news for these misfits, is that Strange is returning to push the boundaries again. From June 14 to 23 Strange will transform more than 20 vacant spaces throughout Perth City into a wonderland of mysterious and marvellous installations, exhibitions, and performances. Plus, the popular 35mm Exhumed Cinema will pop up in a new location to resurrect another Perth Cinema icon.
Strange 2024 will showcase over 30 visual artists in a free-to-see art trail that will pop-up in in more than twenty vacant spaces throughout Boorloo. Strange is very strange; serving up unique and unusual visual art through sculpture, projection and video; aural art via soundscapes; experiential works that engage visitors in new ways; and performance pieces; and analogue cinema.
The soon to be released program will reveal the Strange-ness in all its glory, with some exciting new additions. Keep your eyes out for Synapse – a large-format, giant human-eye at Elizabeth Quay, and the expansion of Cor Novis in Forrest Place to now host both an opening and closing event – The Epic of Gilgamesh, while Pox-Eclipse will showcase a taste of Mad Max over at Yagan Square with a Thunderdome full of performances and activities, and Bartertown, a mini-market bazaar of trinkets & workshops.
Introduced in 2023, Exhumed Cinema will return to a new venue – the Como Theatre, once again showing exclusively 35mm & 16mm film, with over 50 films programmed. The Art Deco Theatre once known as the Cygnet, was Perth’s first purpose build sound cinema will once again be slinging strange flavoured popcorn, choc bombs and a heap of classic and cult films.
With no limitations on artist content, the festival will activate the city’s empty and vacant spaces during winter; including Carillon City, the Liberty Theatre, Forrest Chase, and more.