FREE YOUR MIND

THIS MONTH, THESE EVENTS ARE GUARANTEED TO CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK ABOUT...

LOVE: In 2014, Mandy Len Catron put into practice an experiment that claimed to help people fall in love. Inspired by Arthur Aron’s study about accelerating the intimacy of strangers, she went on a date with a new guy and asked him 36 questions. Each query was more revealing than the last until they held uninterrupted eye contact for exactly four minutes. Her report from the romantic frontline, “To Fall In Love With Anyone, Do This”, was one of The New York Times’ most popular articles of 2015 and led to her book, How To Fall In Love With Anyone. Now, she’s appearing at Adelaide Writers’ Week to talk about the power of romantic myths and how they translate to the real world. March 8; adelaidefestival.com.au REFUGEES: The treatment of refugees is a potent political issue, and not one to shy away from controversy is artist and activist Ai Weiwei, whose battles with the Chinese state inspire his work. Weiwei will be showcasing “Law Of The Journey” at Sydney’s 21st Biennale – a new piece that features a 60m inflatable boat filled with more than 250 figures made from the same rubber used in the vessels that carry refugees from Turkey to Greece. His pilgrimage to Australia will include a keynote address and will coincide with the premiere of his feature film, Human Flow, a project focusing on the global refugee crisis that was filmed in 23 countries. From March 16; biennaleofsydney.com.au POETRY: Patricia Lockwood found fame when her poem Rape Joke went viral five years ago. It was 2013’s Cat Person, using subtle humour to tell an autobiographical tale of trauma and unpick the way rape is discussed. Since then, she’s written a searing memoir, Priestdaddy, about growing up in a household where her dad made the sign of the cross over her and absolved her of her sins after she told him she had been raped. Suffice to say, you won’t want to miss her at Adelaide Writers’ Week. March 5 and 7; adelaidefestival.com.au