Person to person: Stories from Woolloomooloo

About this episode

The episode features an interview with artist Merilyn Fairskye discussing the 'Person to person' exhibition that highlights the history of Woolloomooloo through local residents' stories.

"Person to person" is a 70-minute panoramic video exhibit in the 2026 Sydney Biennale by Sydney-based artists Merilyn Fairskye and Michiel Dolk which shares the rich history of Woolloomooloo — a pocket of public housing nestled right next to what has become the playgrounds and luxury apartments of the rich on Sydney Harbour — told through first-hand stories of local residents. In this interview with Green Left's Peter Boyle, Fairskye shares the background to this exhibition and insights that could be valuable to other public housing communities in inner-Sydney battling a relentless drive by developers and governments to privatise what they only see as prime real estate. "Person to person" is on display at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, which itself overlooks Woolloomooloo, until June 14, 2026. Entry is free. We acknowledge that this video was produced on stolen Aboriginal land. We express solidarity with ongoing struggles for justice for First Nations people and pay our respects to Elders past and present. If you like our work, become a supporter: https://www.greenleft.org.au/support Support Green Left on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/greenleft Green Left online…

People in this episode

Host: Peter Boyle

Guest: Merilyn Fairskye

Topics covered

• public housing
• art exhibition
• local history
• community stories
• gentrification
• First Nations justice

Keywords

• Woolloomooloo
• public housing
• Sydney Biennale
• Merilyn Fairskye
• art exhibition
• community
• gentrification
• First Nations

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Woolloomooloo, Sydney, Art Gallery of New South Wales

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