The Art of… is a refreshing new arts and culture show, hosted by Namila Benson and her team of high profile creative friends. Each episode, we go on artistic missions of epic proportions and try to figure out who we are and how we got here.
Every episode Namila and our guest hosts will zero in on an idea they care deeply about. It might be The Art of… Sex, The Art of… Resistance and even, The Art of… Hair!
Namila and her fellow guest presenters go on adventures exploring historical and contemporary music and art, speaking to up-and-coming artists and mega stars from Australia and around the globe who can help unpack, illuminate and re-imagine these ideas.
As well as meeting outstanding musicians, visual artists and creatives, the audience also follows the journey of our hosts as they grapple with the theme of the episode, what it means to them and the impact it has on their day-to-day life. Each episode of The Art of… is personal, honest and real.
The show will also feature art historian slash TikTok juggernaut Mary McGillivray’s exploration of each episode’s theme through art history.
The Art of…is an exciting new series that will enlighten, confront, thrill and inspire.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
An ABC Production. Series Producer Emma Watts. Executive Producer Zoe Norton Lodge. ABC Head Arts, Music and Events Kath Earle.
Premieres Tuesday 4 June at 9.30pm on ABC TV and ABC iview.
The Art Of is a refreshing new arts and culture show with an epic mission: to answer life’s big questions through art. Each episode we ask a burning question: Why does sex make us uncomfortable? Is rage a blessing or a curse? How can we learn to embrace our imperfections?
Join the ever-curious Namila Benson as she speaks to artists from across the vast creative landscape here and abroad to find answers. Coming along the ride are guests hosts including iconic Australian Drag Queen Courtney Act exploring The Art of Masculinity and food lover Matt Preston delving into The Art of Food. Each episode also features TikTok’s art historian extraordinaire Mary McGillivray.
The Art Of is a wild dive into the challenges of life, borrowing the wisdom, humour and bravery of the most intriguing artists.
Production Credit: An ABC original series. Executive Producer: Zoë Norton Lodge, Series Producer Emma Watts, Head of Arts, Music & Events Kath Earl
THE ART OF… is a refreshing new arts and culture show with an epic mission: to answer life’s big questions through art.
THE ART OF… is a refreshing new arts and culture show with an epic mission: to answer life’s big questions through art. Each episode we ask a burning question: Why does sex make us uncomfortable? Is rage a blessing or a curse? How can we learn to embrace our imperfections?
Join the ever-curious Namila Benson as she speaks to artists from across the vast creative landscape here and abroad to find answers.
Coming along for the ride are guest hosts including iconic Australian Drag Queen Courtney Act exploring The Art of Masculinity and food lover Matt Preston delving into The Art of Food. Each episode also features TikTok’s art historian extraordinaire Mary McGillivray.
THE ART OF… is a wild dive into the challenges of life, borrowing the wisdom, humour and bravery of the most intriguing artists.
Production credit: An ABC original series. Executive Producer: Zoë Norton Lodge, Series Producer Emma Watts, Head of Arts, Music & Events Kath Earl
Namila wants to learn how to embrace her imperfections… is the answer in art? Featuring powerhouse singer/songwriter and purveyor of radical honesty Amanda Palmer, jazz improviser extraordinaire Audrey Powne, acclaimed glass artist Yhonnie Scarce and painter Richard Lewer who has set up his very own art gallery confession booth. What will Namila learn and what will she confess?
Join our guest host, drag sensation, Courtney Act, as she travels around the country to investigate the world of masculinity. Courtney wants to know: What does masculinity mean today. Will art provide answers? By the age of 15, Courtney decided that masculinity wasn’t for her. Now in her 40s, Courtney is finally curious to explore this world. From shooting paintballs and swinging the high line of a cabaret tent, to watching home movies with Courtney’s old man; this episode explores masculinity through a spectacular array of artists, including Parkway Drive front man, Winston McCall, sculptor, Billy Bain, burlesque performer, Fez Faanana and world-famous classicist Mary Beard. Will Courtney discover a newfound love of the masculine world?
In this episode, Namila Benson confronts an ever-taboo subject; Sex. Why does sex make us uncomfortable? Travelling from strip clubs to burlesque bars, she investigates whether the answer is in art.
Featuring actress and intimacy coordinator, Michaela Banas, the acclaimed visual artist, Paul Yore, burlesque sensation, Kitty Obsidian, and ABC Classic’s Vanessa Hughes, who reveals just how unexpectedly filthy classical music can be - it’s a journey like no other.
Will Namila find out why sex makes us uncomfortable?
Ever wondered how some artists change the world? In this inspiring episode, Namila chats with some of her heroes, both international megastars and Australian icons.
She meets with Angelique Kidjo, a creative force with sixteen albums to her name and five Grammy Awards, international Drag Race star, Bimini, and powerful Elder, Uncle Kutcha Edwards.
We all love to laugh… but why? Namila, along with a star-studded lineup, explores how comics handle everything from drunken hecklers to political exile. Featuring Aussie comedy veteran, Shaun Micallef, international comedy sensation, Zainab Johnson, the deadly funny father and son duo, Dane and Bow Simpson, and Chinese-Australian political artist, Badiucao; Namila investigates what it takes to face the crowd and make people laugh with you - not just at you.
The world is full of rage right now, and Namila Benson is out to tackle this controversial emotion head on. With the help of some of Australia’s favourite artists whose work has been inspired by the push and pull of rage, Namila’s on a mission to find out: what can we do with our rage? Featuring celebrated author Christos Tsiolkas (Loaded, The Slap, Barracuda, Dead Europe), award-winning artists Del Kathryn Barton and Hoda Afshar, and comedy favourite Nazeem Hussain.
With the science of climate painting out our planet a dark future, is it time to turn to art for answers? In this episode, we want to know: how can we get some relief from our climate anxiety?
On our journey, we meet the artists who are shining a light on new ways we can tackle humanity’s greatest challenge. Featuring actor turned climate activist (from the blockbuster series, Orange Is The New Black) Yael Stone, experimental algae artist Jessie French and more.
The ABC changed the screening order, thus the rage episode was shown last Tuesday (it’s now available on iView) and the being funny episode will air tonight.
In this episode Namila asks, why are we so obsessed with hair? Featuring super model Duckie Thot, hair sculptor Zeina Thiboult, a trip to Mullet Fest and an exploration of the conspicuous absence of pubic hair in premodern sculptures with Mary McGillivray plus we take a dive into the curious world of Victorian hair art with Hollie Barclay.
Join guest host Osher Günsberg on a personal journey as he asks how he can start over at this pivotal time in his life?
Featuring former Wiggle Emma Watkins, footy legend turned artist Gavin Wanganeen and comedian turned artist Sam Kissajukian.
We’re all faced with the prospect of hitting the reset button at various times, whether it be in our careers, our relationships or even how we see ourselves. In this episode of The Art Of… Osher explores the boundless possibilities of starting over with artists who have all returned to square one.
In this episode Namila Benson asks if art can help us understand motherhood. Featuring Kelly-Dawn from alt-rock band Camp Cope, Eleganza and novelist Elizabeth Day of famed podcast How-To-Fail.
Australia’s favourite foodie, Matt Preston asks the question – is food art?
Ever hungry for knowledge, Matt goes on a quest to explore the intersection of food and artistic expression. Matt’s quest takes him to the 45,000-year-old Sulawesi Warty pig paintings in Indonesia, one of the earliest pieces of rock art ever discovered. Matt is chuffed to discover that one of the first pieces of art depicts his favourite thing… dinner!
Closer to home, Matt meets with acclaimed chocolatier Kirsten Tibballs, celebrated chef and owner of Attica, Ben Shewry and renowned Indigenous glass blower Jenni Kemarre Martiniello.
In this week’s issue of TV Week, Osher said he initially turned down the offer of hosting this episode, given it happened soon after The Masked Singer and The Bachelor franchises were both axed by 10, but accepted the role after giving it a deep thought.
The episode will also include a chat between Osher and wife Audrey Griffen.
Approaching a significant milestone birthday, podcaster and author, Yumi Stynes is seeking inspiration for her “next act”. Instead of relaxing into old age and resting on her laurels, Yumi craves growth, expansion and wisdom. She does not want to see her mind or body disintegrate.
Yumi sets out on a mission to find out, how can we age powerfully? She meets some incredible artists who continue to knock the ball well out of the park deep into their 60s and 70s and beyond.
Yumi chats with the hilarious author, Kathy Lette, renowned and daring visual artist Lindy Lee, internationally acclaimed artist Maree Clarke and dance legend Meryl Tankard.
Matildas great Elise “KK” Kellond-Kight goes from turf to surf to tackle the question – Why are we so obsessed with Sport? Join “KK” on this personal journey as she swaps out the football boots for a camera to capture whether art and sport are really history’s greatest rivals or two players on the same team.
Featuring surfing icon and acclaimed painter Otis Hope Carey, award-Winning photographer for the AFL Michael Willson, and ABC’s evening news anchor Tamara Oudyn.
The best things in life may be free, but money sure does talk. In this episode, journalist and broadcaster Daniel Browning brings his rich arts knowledge to ask why we find it so difficult to talk about money.
Featuring a wealth of acclaimed artists including Richard Bell, Kay Abude, Andrei Molodkin and Michael Zavros.
