QPAC

We pay our respects to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ancestors of this land, their spirits and their legacy. The foundations laid by these ancestors give strength, inspiration and courage to current and future generations, both First Nations and non-First Nations peoples, towards creating a better Queensland.

Hip hop, film and orchestra converge in The Bigger Picture

Fri 16 June 2023

QPAC’s Concert Hall was transformed into an audio-visual delight with the much anticipated The Bigger Picture, featuring Sachém and Matt Hsu’s Obscure Orchestra.

A multi-talented storyteller, wordsmith and leader, Sachém anchors his contemporary sound in music and spoken word poetry, weaving in theatrical elements of dance, visual projection, and film to bring to life a hard-hitting, self-empowered theatre show that celebrated First Nations lives in a Reconciliation Week performance at QPAC.

The Aboriginal and African-American artist’s unique sound is born from his life experiences growing up between Adelaide and Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island), where he listened to the stories told by his grandmother, aunties, uncles, and parents.

Joining Sachém for The Bigger Picture was the award-winning 22-piece Matt Hsu’s Obscure Orchestra. Beginning as Matt’s solo multi-instrumental offbeat tinkering, Matt Hsu’s Obscure Orchestra has grown to one of Australia’s most respected ensembles. Challenging the pomp and formality of classical orchestras, the group is a DIY anti-racist ensemble underpinned by community-minded inclusivity, comprising of 20+ BIPOC, First Nations, disabled, non-binary and trans artists.

Guest artists on the night also included rappers Grandmaster Absent and Nerve, and beatbox extraordinaire Tom Thum.

An illuminating pre-concert Q&A was held with Sachém, Dr Matt Hsu, Producer Nicole Reilly, Creative Producer Kyel Golly and Creative Shan Jacobe, all involved with the making of the show. Emceed by Dr Chelsea Watego, audiences were invited to hear about the artist stories woven with music, culture, and personal journeys behind The Bigger Picture.

Media delighted in this outstanding performance, as noted in reviews:

“The whole experience was one of living, breathing collaboration (between artists, networks, industries and communities, by the vibe of it) and even as it ended, it felt like we were all actually just approaching the start of something." Scenestr

“There is just as much joy and celebration to be found throughout The Bigger Picture, from the sheer exuberance of the Obscure Orchestra supporting and amplifying the journey to the love Sachém has for whom and where he has come from." Nothing Ever Happens in Brisbane

See who joined us on this extraordinary evening in our social gallery.

Also enjoy some of the fantastic media reviews below.

Nothing Ever Happens in Brisbane
4ZZZ

The Bigger Picture was originally produced on Quandamooka Country in partnership with Redland Performing Arts Centre and was first performed at RPAC in October 2022.