It was an appropriately apocalyptic day for the preview of the 23rd Sydney biennale. The Colombian director José Roca has titled it rīvus, which means “stream”: a deep examination of all things watery, from the drowning of Pacific Islands to the loss of fishing cultures during the slow destruction of climate change. That Tuesday, as massive floods inundated eastern Australia, New South Wales authorities warned people to stay at home unless it was strictly necessary.
The show went on. And it was a soggy triumph. Constant rain during the eight-hour, six-venue marathon only added to the urgency of the message.
