Edge of Chaos Art Exhibition: Enter the Metaverse at Barangaroo

Art and NFT Exhibition by E.L.K

Award-winning artist, Luke Cornish (E.L.K), will launch his ground-breaking Edge of Chaos art exhibition on Friday, 11 March, which is set to deliver a poignant interpretation of the divisive state of the world. A first-of-its-kind in Sydney, Edge of Chaos will offer a hybrid art and NFT exhibition with the opportunity to venture into the metaverse and to co-create content with the artist.

The Edge of Chaos exhibition, held over two levels in Tower Three at Barangaroo, will add to the many entertainment offerings being hosted at The Streets of Barangaroo CBD precinct.

E.L.K is known for his irreverent brand of photorealism stencil art that has drawn global acclaim. Speaking about the exhibition, Cornish said: “I really see my art as a conversation starter, to push people out of their apathy and myopic world views. Bushfires, floods, famines, pandemics and politics; it feels like we’re in pre-apocalyptic times. We’re tipping on the edge of chaos; that hypothetical space between order and disorder, this body of work asks the question: which way will we choose to fall?”

The exhibition exposes the dichotomy between our online and offline worlds by offering a traditional art gallery on the first floor that draws on the zeitgeist to offer an apocalyptic tableau of the 2020s, and a virtual, technology-driven experience on the second which introduces the order of the online world. The exhibition will offer guests a hopeful journey into the metaverse, with virtual reality headsets transporting users from inside the exhibit, and away from the chaos of reality and the opportunity to leave their own creative mark in 2D and 3D forms.

Regarding the symbolism of the exhibition, Cornish stated: “In the exhibit, I explore the darkness – the protests, the dictators and the scenes of anarchy and then take you on a journey, literally transcending into the light; the world of NFTs and freedom fighters.”

Duco van Breemen, creator of The Kimmies NFT collection and collaborator on E.L.K’s Edge of Chaos exhibition, positions NFTs as a great opportunity for artists and creators to have ongoing ownership and connection with their artworks and community. Excited by the exhibit’s expansion of the use of NFTs from simply being ‘collectables’, van Breemen said: “They’re just the starting point; there’s so much more that can be done with them. That’s why it’s so exciting for me to be involved with the Edge of Chaos exhibit and help bring NFTs to the broader community.”

The exhibition will also offer different events over the course of March. These events include, ‘The World of NFT’s’ which will give guests a basic understanding of NFTs; ‘Women in NFTs - the movers & shakers’, which will spotlight women at the helm of the Australian NFT space; and ‘NFTs - the creators & investors’ viewpoints’, which will offer key speaker perspectives on the motivations behind the artistry of NFTs.

With a stellar lineup for opening night on Friday, 11 March, including musicians from The Sydney Youth Orchestra and food and drink from local precinct retail partners, the exhibition will be open for general admission from 11am-8pm each day, Saturday, 12 March to Friday, 1 April, excluding Mondays and Tuesdays. The opening hours offer the perfect opportunity to explore Barangaroo before or after visiting the exhibition. The Streets of Barangaroo offers everything from casual eats such as Belles Hot Chicken,
to European hospitality with Bel & Brio as well as drinks harbourside at Barangaroo House.

Tickets for opening night are limited and can be purchased HERE.
Tickets for general admission during the month-long residency can be purchased HERE.
Tickets are available through Humantix. Your tickets can be paid in full using your NSW Dine and Discover vouchers.

The exhibit is suitable for audiences 15+.

Over the coming months, the site in Tower Three at Barangaroo will house several activations, cementing The Streets of Barangaroo as a cultural hub for Sydney and beyond. For more information please visit The Streets of Barangaroo.

The views and opinions expressed by individuals in the exhibition are personal to the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of International Towers Sydney.