New York Sunday

Be transfixed as majestic cliffs of colour shape-shift and morph across the Museum of Contemporary Art. As a centrepiece of Vivid Sydney’s 2022 Light Walk, Australia’s leading abstractionist Helen Eager transforms the six-storey façade with an eight-minute visual journey through her artistic evolution. The visual dynamics are accentuated by an electronic composition by Sydney’s own, Paul Mac.

Over the past four decades, Helen Eager has developed a signature geometric abstraction in her paintings, drawings and prints. This unique kinetic retrospective of Helen's work begins with pieces created during her 1988 residency in the Greene St Studio, New York. It was there that her paintings and drawings shifted from recognisable interiors to pure abstract forms.

This brilliant installation follows the path of her paintings as slow and subtle changes take a rectangular form inevitably to the triangular motif that became renowned when Tango – the expansive wall painting commissioned for the entry wall of the new Museum of Contemporary Art Australia building – was unveiled in 2012. Linear neon-like motifs and a multitude of animated colour combinations lead to a grand finale culminating with her latest work, which is premiered for the first time.

In collaboration with artists, Rico and Julian Reinhold at H0RSE, the installation works with colour in a new way, using pure light to expand the visual possibilities. Helen has also always worked with music and there is an ambitious and exciting collaboration with renowned electro-pop musician, songwriter, producer, and re-mixer Paul Mac who creates the original soundtrack for this production.

“The sheer scale has been thrilling… turning the huge MCA building into a canvas has been exhilarating” – Helen Eager (from Art Collector).

The audio for this installation will be available on Cinewav. Before you arrive at Vivid Sydney, download the Cinewav app, get your audio ticket and press PLAY. More information on how Cinewav works can be found here.