Melbourne International Biennial- Signs of Life
{Freda Watkin}
This article is an edited version of the Biennial's Media Release.

Creative Director: Juliana Engberg
Former Telstra Telephone Exchange, Cnr Russell & Little Collins Streets, Melbourne May 11 - June 27

The first Melbourne International Biennial is now on and presents contemporary visual art by local and international artists in the context of Australia's art network. The biennial has been designed to use the strengths of Melbourne's contemporary art expertise through the presentation of a central international exhibition in the old Telstra Exchange building and a range of ancillary programs which give definition to emerging art practice from around the world.

The curatorial selections under the concept of Signs of Life provide the opportunity to consider contemporary art and its relevance to global issues of humanity. The exhibition features a range of artistic media (including performance art, off-site installations and events which link back to the central display spaces), a diversity of practice and challenging artistic perspectives.

The biennial's Artistic Director, Juliana Engberg, has a solid reputation as a curator, writer, commentator and publisher. She undertook a world tour to research and select artists for the biennial. Her strong links to international visual arts organisations and practitioners are reflected in the presence of internationally recognised and innovative artists participating in this biennial. Juliana Engberg's previous projects have included; Downtown: Ruscha, Rooney and Arkley, Persona Cognita, the Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art (Art gallery of South Australia), Jenny Holzer's Lustmord, Barbara Kruger and Colonial Post Colonial.

The key presentation is an exhibition of work by more than fifty international known artists which includes a substantial number of Australian artist-participants. However, the Out-Sited Installations and Extension Projects are designed to ensure that the art will enter Melbourne's urban environment, through the use of key locations, in performative ways.

In addition to the exhibition the Biennal also includes the following projects:

• The Collaborating Country Projects presents commissioned, curated artists' projects from selected countries.
• A lunchtime and weekend series of moderated panel discussions, artists' and curators' talks.
• An Open Studio Program where ten key international curators will participate in discussions and lectures.
• The School of Architecture and Design at RIMIT will also curate an architectural project and exhibition under the cone at Melbourne Central.