Revive and Resist: Documentary by the Fondation Cartier & the Biennale of Sydney

Revive and Resist, directed by Kieran Satour, is a captivating 35-minute documentary that delves into the creative journeys of 14 of the most visionary First Nations artists from around the globe, who crafted extraordinary works for the 24th Biennale of Sydney, Ten Thousand Suns in 2024.

The documentary highlights the artists’ unique approaches, cultural legacies, and the profound storytelling embedded in their work, offering an intimate look at how these trailblazers challenge, inspire, and expand contemporary practices.

In 2024, the Biennale and the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain embarked on a transformative partnership to platform First Nations art on a global stage. As a Visionary Partner of the Biennale, the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain collaborated to commission the 14 artists—including prominent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creators—to produce new, bold artworks for this landmark edition.

The artists featured: Mangala Bai Maravi, Doreen Chapman, Megan Cope, Cristina Flores Pescorán, Gail Mabo, Freddy Mamani, Dylan Mooney, Orquídeas Barrileteras, John Pule, Eric-Paul Riege, Darrell Sibosado, Kaylene Whiskey, Yangamini, and Nikau Hindin.

Central to this partnership was the establishment of the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain First Nations Curatorial Fellow, with celebrated artist and Kuku Yalanji man Tony Albert appointed as the inaugural fellow. Albert played a pivotal role in guiding and collaborating with the artists to bring their visions to life and open cross-cultural dialogue. The documentary chronicles Albert’s curatorial journey, working alongside the 24th edition Artistic Directors Cosmin Costinas and Inti Guerrero and how the stories of the artists converge for a common message: to Revive and Resist.

The documentary honours the individuality and collective impact of the artists. Together, these elements create a powerful narrative celebrating cultural resilience, artistic innovation, and the collective impact of First Nations art internationally.

The film is produced by Entropico in collaboration with GARUWA.

Revive and Resist is now available to stream for free both on YouTube and Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain and Biennale of Sydney websites, making it accessible to a global audience.

“It was such a privilege to bring the incredible artistry of all these Indigenous artists from all over the world to the screen,” said documentary director Kieran Satour.

“They are all so gifted and unique, grounded in their creative practice, our challenge was to try and bring their story and their work to life on screen. Treating each story as unique and individual, our approach utilising mixed media resulted in an eclectic and engaging film that I hope does justice to the beautiful diversity of these artists. I’m very proud of what our team produced and I thank Tony and all of the artists for their generosity in sharing their stories with us all.”

“I am excited to share the journey of the Fondation Cartier First Nations Curatorial fellowship,” said Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain First Nations Curatorial Fellow Tony Albert.

“It was an experience that shaped and changed my life. This ambitious project represents the absolute pinnacle of Indigenous excellence, and this documentary will exist forever in sharing our culture and stories through the power of art.”

About the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain

The Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain is a private cultural institution whose mission is to promote all fields of contemporary artistic creation to the international public through a program of temporary exhibitions, live performances, and conversations. Created in 1984 by the Maison Cartier, the institution is exhibiting in Paris in a building designed by the architect Jean Nouvel.

The Fondation Cartier’s singular artistic program explores a wide array of creative fields from visual and performing arts to architecture, design, fashion, philosophy, and the sciences. For nearly four decades, the Fondation Cartier has been instrumental in revealing the talent of some of the greatest contemporary artists and has established its museum spaces as a platform where artists and scientists can meet and create projects to address major issues of today’s world. Its collection consists of nearly 4,500 works from a rich and multidisciplinary program. It is a testament to the relationships forged with more than 500 artists originating from all over the globe.

As part of its ongoing observation of the relationship between human beings and nature, the Fondation Cartier has produced collective projects (exhibitions, individual works of art, publications, performances, and public talks) approaching contemporary environmental issues, such as climate change, biodiversity and deforestation. The Fondation Cartier also built a long-term relationship with contemporary artists from Indigenous communities living in Brazil, Paraguay, Venezuela or Australia (as demonstrated by the exhibition of Mirdidingkingathi Juwarnda Sally Gabori’s paintings it presented in Paris and Milan in 2022), and bear witness to the multiplicity of Indigenous languages and cultures. The Fondation Cartier travels the world, partnering with major art institutions and engaging new audiences to discover the works of contemporary artists, and be challenged by their perspectives.

About the Biennale of Sydney

The 24th Biennale of Sydney, titled Ten Thousand Suns, featured 400 artworks by 96 exhibiting artists and collectives and attracted over 777,000 visitors. There were 46 new public art commissions created specifically for the edition, including work by 14 First Nations artists commissioned by the Biennale of Sydney in partnership with the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain. Kuku Yalanji man and one of Australia’s foremost contemporary artists Tony Albert was appointed as the inaugural Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain First Nations Curatorial Fellow to work with the First Nations artists to realise their artworks.

The Biennale of Sydney is a leading international contemporary art event. It plays an indispensable role in Australia’s engagement with the world, and a meaningful role in the life of the nation. For 50 years, the Biennale has been a unifying force in the Australian arts sector, embedding boldly creative art exhibitions and experiences in the everyday life of Sydney and putting the artistic excellence of Australia front and centre on the world stage. The Biennale of Sydney has commissioned and presented exceptional works of art by more than 2,400 artists from more than 130 countries and territories. The Biennale of Sydney is committed to free access for all.

The 25th Biennale of Sydney will be presented in 2026 under the direction of Artistic Director Hoor Al Qasimi. Further details to be announced in the coming months.

About the Filmmaker

Kieran Satour hails from the Gurindji / Malngin, Pertame Arrernte and Worimi nations of Australia, drawing inspiration from his ancestral heritage and experiences to produce work that is culturally nuanced, evocative and thought-provoking.

Satour’s recent film NGURRAWAANA was the winner of the 2023 Monster Children Short Film Awards. After winning the award, Satour travelled to Aotearoa to create a short doco Mahika Kai (premiering at Māoriland 2024) with an incredible Māori family working to revitalise Kāi Tahu country and culture.

Kieran was the Director and EP of We Are Warriors: Through The Fire, which took out Bronze at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in 2023. He is co-directing Facing the Numbers with Tyson Perkins, a hybrid docu-drama series that celebrates the strength of First Nations people in the face of injustices as a response to the global BLM movement.

Always looking to represent First Nations stories in innovative ways, Satour is currently directing a series of poetry films entitled “kwatye urrewe — uplifting desert stories” featuring Aboriginal poets from across central Australia which will premiere at the Blak & Bright Literary Festival in Narrm 2024.

Learn more: biennaleofsydney.art

Watch the documentary.