Revising old work – is art ever really finished?

To change or keep as is? A director, a playwright, a live artist and a choreographer reflect on revisiting and remaking existing works.

Publicity image for The Australian Ballet’s Murphy, celebrating the works of iconic choreographer Graeme Murphy.

Artists in every sector invest considerable energy, both mentally and physically, in creating new work. Consequently, knowing when to down tools and step away from the finished object – if indeed an art work can ever be said to be finished – can sometimes be challenging, regardless of one’s medium or practice.

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Richard Watts OAM is ArtsHub's National Performing Arts Editor; he also presents the weekly program SmartArts on Three Triple R FM. Richard is a life member of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, a Melbourne Fringe Festival Living Legend, and was awarded the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards' Facilitator's Prize in 2020. In 2021 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Green Room Awards Association. Most recently, Richard received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in June 2024. Follow him on Twitter: @richardthewatts