Our Side of Things
Curated by Feras Shaheen and Jay Hennicke
Tobias Becs, Jordan Morrison, Jay Hennicke, Tom Kentta, Curtis Maher, Zac Roberts, Jakob Semajer-Garic, Feras Shaheen, Susan Sohar, Albert Hua, Moh Nazari, Yuki Tokimoto, Ben Kelly, Dylan Stipack, Luke Cartwright, Hobart Breakers, DJ DynOmite Drew, DJ Brown Sugar, Good Morning Ziko
26 August–2 September 2023
Main event: 12pm, 26 August
Workshop: 12–2pm, 27 August
Freestyle jam: 2–5pm, 27 August
Contemporary Art Tasmania
A look into Freestyle Football in Australia
Our Side of Things was a hybrid public event and exhibition that embraces the layered subculture of freestyle football in Australia. Influenced by football (soccer), circus, breaking (breakdance), hip hop battle culture and many other forms, with its roots in ancient Southern and South East Asia, freestyle football represents a contemporary border-breaking art form that is quickly gathering momentum through digital platforms.
Co-curators
Born in Dubai to Palestinian parents and moving to Western Sydney at age 11, Feras Shaheen is an artist using choreography, installation work, film, performance, digital media, and street dance to communicate his ideas. Holding a Bachelor of Design from Western Sydney University (2014) Feras often subverts traditional relationships between mediums to challenge audiences’ perspectives. He was the winner of The Australian Ballet’s Telstra Emerging Choreographer in 2021 and has performed and exhibited at Carriageworks, Venice Biennale, Kampnagel, Campbelltown Arts Centre and Théâtre de la Ville, Paris.
Tasmanian-born Jay Hennicke is one of the key players in both the Australian and global Football Freestyle scene. Jay specialises in the competitive scene, where he is currently ranked in the top 16 globally and is the current, and x3 Australian champion. Jay has international experience in both performing and providing critical feedback.
Full program
Sat 26 Aug
Main event 12–5pm
Australia’s best freestylers went head to head in a series of freestyle football battles.
Sun 27 Aug
Workshop 12–2pm
Freestyle jam 2–5pm
Freestylers practiced, shared and communicated within the space. This event was open for the audience to watch or participate.
