Artistic Director of the Melbourne Writers Festival (MWF), Marike Hardy, joins Annika for State of the Art this morning to chat about the sublime collection of authors, journalists, playwrights, poets, songwriters and artists on this year's program.
This year's theme When We Talk About Love contemplates love in all its raw, dizzying, ecstatic glory. Taken from Raymond Carver's short story collection, What We Talk About When We Talk About Love, MWF19 will intergrate our love for people, sex, politics and country through conversations, new writing, music and immersive events.
Artistic Director Marieke Hardy will take Melbourne on a journey from the first flush of new romance to last goodbyes, with events including a raucous hen’s night with comedy writers Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan, a faux wedding reception for Yumi Stynes, and a place to honour past love at the Museum of Broken Relationships. This Australian exclusive exhibition will showcase pieces from the permanent collections in Zagreb and L.A. together with new contributions from heartbroken Melburnians.
“Love stirs our creative spirits, brings us to our knees, inspires songs and sonnets and paintings and volumes, and breaks us into tiny pieces and glues us back together again with gold adhesive,” Ms Hardy said. “When we talk about love at MWF19, there will be stories of resilience, of heartbreak and letting go, of family and bodies and home.”
Melbourne Writers Festival runs from August 30 to September 8 in and aroud the State Library.
Tune in to The Breakfast Spread from 8.30am Wednesday August 28 to hear Artistic Director Marieke Hardy chatting about the Melbourne Writers Festival, and every Wednesday to find out all the latest Arts news of Melbourne.