LIFEFORCE: Ballarat International Foto Biennale Now Open, Showing Until October
IMG LINK
Australian writer Tim Winton sits for a portrait at a studio on Gadigal Land, Sydney, NSW, Australia on Oct. 19, 2024. Winton visited Sydney on the tour of his new novel Juice. Photo by Adam Ferguson for The Guardian
IMG LINK
Catherine Leroy Vietcong suspects before interrogation Mekong Delta region September 1966 © Dotation Catherine Leroy
Ballarat International Foto Biennale has launched a thrilling blend of curated exhibitions, city-wide pop-ups, workshops, talks and more — all under the central theme Lifeforce, immersing Ballarat in all elements of photography from 23 August to 19 October 2025.
Presented by Intrepid Travel, the eight-week festival brings the world’s leading photographers, digital creators and innovators together in a celebration of the vital energy and creative spark that animates both artist and audience.
From the inspiring and fashionable photographs of Campbell Addy, to the provocative and moving works by Robert Mapplethorpe, and the historical statement-making images of French photojournalist Catherine Leroy, the Biennale creates thought-provoking moments captured in time.
“This year’s Biennale honours a lifeforce energy with a program that is dynamic, provocative and deeply moving,” said Vanessa Gerrans, Artistic Director and CEO of Ballarat International Foto Biennale.
“From globally acclaimed photographers to emerging voices, the 2025 Biennale offers audiences exclusive Australian exhibitions, world premieres and large-scale outdoor installations that transform Ballarat into a walkable, immersive art experience,” she added.
Ballarat’s streets and laneways come alive with a vibrant outdoor program, transforming the regional city into a walkable art tour. Highlights include laneway activations filled with imagery, posters, objects and paste-ups across the heritage centre; the immersive large-scale Memory Matrix maze of photographs at The Goods Shed and Bridge Mall; contemporary works in laneways and spaces around the city; and a striking Art Screen exhibition in Alfred Deakin Place by Northern Territory-based artist Leicolhn McKellar, highlighting the ties between place and identity.
This year’s centrepiece public artwork is Mumu Mirri — a shimmering moth sculpture designed by Dave Jones and Dr Deanne Gilson, celebrating resilience, transformation and interconnectedness. Mumu Mirri is a sculptural tribute to the Bogong Moth, a vital totem of sustenance and survival for First Nations people.
The Biennale features more than 360 artists and spans over 100 indoor and outdoor venues, with pop-up exhibitions in cafés, bars and laneways inviting visitors to wander and explore.
Thanks to Principal Sponsor Intrepid Travel, all ticket holders can go into the draw to win a Golden Ticket: an Intrepid adventure worth up to $15,000.
Details
Ballarat International Foto Biennale — Lifeforce
23 August – 19 October 2025
More info: ballaratfoto.org
More green updates
