Following on from the debut EP 'Part Of The Picture', Aboriginal and African-American artist Sachém presents his latest work 'The Bigger Picture', in a special Reconciliation Week performance.
It'll be presented at Queensland Performing Arts Centre in Brisbane.
'The Bigger Picture' is an experience anchored in music and spoken word poetry. It highlights Sachém's award-winning contemporary sound, also weaving in elements of dance, visual projection and film.
Sachém is known for his many artistic talents, and has won things like the 2017 Oodgeroo Noonuccal Poetry Prize through Queensland Poetry Festival, and 2020 Brisbane City Council's Best Original Song Award.
Now, two years on from 'Part Of The Picture', Sachém brings the next chapter in the form of a hard-hitting, self-empowering theatre show.
Joining the performance is Matt Hsu's Obscure Orchestra, comprising BIPOC, First Nations, disabled, non-binary and trans artists.
We chat to Sachém ahead of 'The Bigger Picture', about Reconciliation Week, the art of music and poetry, and the performers included in the production.
This performance is a special one for Reconciliation Week. Can you tell us about that?
Reconciliation Week has played a vital role in Australia when it comes to beginning the truth telling of our history. For us, the telling of our story is evolving, and now more than ever, we are approaching reconciliation as a verb – a doing word. We’ve come together as individual artists from all walks of life to present this amazing body of work in QPAC, a cultural epicentre of Meanjin, both in a modern and traditional context. We are sure that once experiencing 'The Bigger Picture' performance, the audience will leave with a better understanding of the communal responsibility and privilege that comes with living here on our beautiful country.
It’s a performance that has many different elements. What made you want to put together something like this?
The performance is called 'The Bigger Picture' for a reason. We wanted to do it bigger and better than before, to make a statement that hip hop is here, the marginalised are here and we’re here to stay. We put together an amazing team of artists and producers and asked the question ‘What is the best was we can we tell our story?’ And what better way to tell a story than with music, poetry, script, and short film?
Talk a bit about what the art of music and poetry means to you.
Music and poetry have given me vision. It’s given me a home, meals to put on my table and a peace of mind. I’ve been fortunate enough to make a living from my craft for the past three years and I owe all that to the art, my family, and my ancestors.
Image © Rod Pilbeam
Why do you do it?
I make art because it’s my life work. It makes me happy; it makes others around me happy. Music and poetry have provided opportunities to meet amazing individuals, visit some amazing places in the world and in times of need has been my fortitude.
The show features Matt Hsu’s Obscure Orchestra. For those unfamiliar, can you tell us a bit about them?
Beginning as Matt’s solo multi-instrumental offbeat tinkering, Matt Hsu’s Obscure Orchestra has grown to one of Australia’s most respected ensembles. Challenging the pomp and formality of classical orchestras, the group is a DIY anti-racist ensemble underpinned by community-minded inclusivity, comprising of more than 20 BIPOC, First Nations, disabled, non-binary and trans artists.
What do you love most about this group of performers?
It’s a collection of the most colourful and talented people our great city has to offer. I feel part of a team, a community and big old family whenever we get together!
And what are you most looking forward to about presenting 'The Bigger Picture' to audiences in Brisbane?
I feel like this is a big moment for a lot of people. 'The Bigger Picture' is the biggest project a lot of people have ever worked on – years and years of learning, experimenting, failing, refining in our individual crafts and now we get to present a slice of that in a collaborative jam-packed 70-minute show for our community.
'The Bigger Picture' plays Queensland Performing Arts Centre 31 May.
