iMuseum of Contemporary Art AustraliaThe Rocks
Philippe Parreno: 5 Moons
Sydney International Art Series 2026-27: a major survey of French artist Philippe Parreno's immersive film, light and sound installations.
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Preview: written before the show opened
A school of helium-filled balloon fish is among the things the MCA lists for this show, next to film, audio, installation, robotics, light, wind and temperature. Parreno calls himself an "exhibition producer" rather than an artist, and the MCA describes a scripted production that unfolds over time and is never the same twice.
It runs across multiple floors: the Macgregor Gallery, the Lecture Theatre and the Level 3 Galleries. Destination NSW's announcement says the moon is the starting point and that the MCA and its harbour location wax and wane over five months. The balloon fish move as a school, which is more than anyone manages at Circular Quay at 5:40pm.
The MCA's page gives no ticket price, only 20% off pre-sale and free entry for Members and under-18s. The museum is open until 9pm on Thursdays and closed on Tuesdays. The show is exclusive to Sydney and runs until 26 April 2027.
Editor's pick
The Sydney International Art Series show: a major survey of Philippe Parreno's installations in film, light and sound.
Look for
The balloon fish
A school of helium-filled balloon fish, which the MCA lists alongside the show's wind, temperature and light.
Good for
- Evening Visits
- Out-Of-Town Guests
With kids
Entry is free for under-18s.
Free in the same building
- Jumaadi: Antara Nanas & DuriAntara Nanas & Duri [Between the pineapple and the thorns] (2019), an acrylic-on-cloth work by Indonesian-Australian artist Jumaadi, in the MCA's permanent collection.
- MCA CollectionOne of Australia's most significant public collections of contemporary art, over 4,500 works with major Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander holdings.
- Shaun Gladwell: Portrait of Michael DransfieldA lightbox work by Shaun Gladwell (2005), part of the MCA's permanent collection.
Also at Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
On now nearby
Nearby
Image credits
8
- Philippe Parreno: 5 MoonsCourtesy of Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
- Portia Geach Memorial Award 2026Courtesy of S.H. Ervin Gallery
- Jordan Gower: Does the moon know the well?Photograph: Jacquie Manning
- Museum of Contemporary Art AustraliaTony Hisgett / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
- Justice & Police Museumsv1ambo, CC BY 2.0
- Sydney ObservatoryDicklyon, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Museum of SydneyElekhh, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
- S.H. Ervin GalleryCollywolly / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0