Moira Finucane’s The Rapture Chapter II: Art vs Extinction

Following globally acclaimed premiere seasons in Miami, Slovenia, Denmark, Berlin and Prague, Finucane & Smith presents the stunning sequel to their 2017 award-winning art event, The Rapture.

From the icebergs of Antarctica deep in the snow in silk couture amongst scientists, penguins and distant avalanches; from the red centre of Australia in rich cultural exchange with First Nation genius artists; forests in Denmark, silent movie houses in Berlin, and Rapture’s exhibit at Prague Quadrennial; Moira Finucane lands back into Melbourne to unleash The Rapture Chapter II: Art vs Extinction.

Welcome to the lair of the Ice Queen; a spike-crowned, jewel-encrusted human glacier, dressed in cascading silk, surrounded by porcelain icicles, sculptures of extinct birds, dripping icebergs trapped in ghost nets, she rumbles into life.

In this apocalyptic cabaret, artists beyond gender and genre sing up an ice storm – torch singer Mama Alto, operatic wonder Piera Dennerstein, 85 year old angel of song Shirley Cattunar, and from Marlinja NT, Mudburra artist of profound cultural power, Ray Dimakarri Dixon with songs of standing strong direct from the heart of our country.

Artworks from audible to edible from 40 astonishing collaborators - globally acclaimed sculptors, multi-awarded composers, visual arts genius’ with disabilities, food artists, couturiers and queer rabble-rousers - flow into and through the audience whilst words from scientists desperate to save the world ring out. And Finucane - the woman who has worldwide been called a ‘Sumptuous Monster’, ‘La Diosa’ (The Goddess) ‘Diabo Na Garraffa’ (Devil in a Bottle) walks you through the end of the world and gives you reason to come out singing…and swinging.

As one of the inaugural recipients of a new Fellowship designed to supercharge extraordinary creators, The Victorian Government’s Creators Fund, Moira undertook an epic journey of land, culture and spirit; a deep research and exchange odyssey that led her from the far north of Australia—from the Tiwi Islands through the red centre, collaborating, learning and exchanging with Indigenous artists and communities to the very far south; Antarctica. The discoveries are Moira Finucane’s The Rapture Chapter II: Art vs Extinction.