OLEUM | SUBVERSUS

Subversus is a creative studio, artist collective and production house working across culture and commerce. We connect artistic practice and commercial opportunity, enabling work that’s ambitious and culturally sharp.

Founded by filmmakers, artists and cultural producers, Subversus was built from within these worlds. We understand commercial realities, their workflows, expectations and standards, because we work inside them every day.

Subversus acts as the bridge between artists and commercial partners, providing a support structure that protects the artist’s practice, serves the brief, and creates the conditions for shared authorship and collaboration. We make commercial production navigable for artists, and prioritise creative environments over traditional hierarchy. We work with artists who move across film, art, music, performance, fashion, installation, experiential and tech.

As a creative studio and production partner, we work alongside agencies, brands and cultural partners from concept through to delivery. Work is artist-led, brand-initiated, institutionally commissioned, or developed through independent practice and extended into commercial and public contexts.

Based in Sydney and operating globally, Subversus takes on unconventional briefs while honouring artist authorship and the ambitions of our partners.

We’re for agencies and brands seeking artist-led projects with cultural weight, for institutions exploring alternatives to traditional commissioning structures, and for artists whose work demands more room than a single category allows. Subversus is where artists and commercial partners meet on equal terms.

Subversus acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work, create and collaborate. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and recognise the ongoing connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to land, culture and story. We acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded and commit to working with care, respect and responsibility on this land.

Tanya Babić
Co-Founder / Executive Producer
tanya@subversus.com

Jason Sukadana
Co-Founder / Creative Director
jason@subversus.com

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SUBVERSUS VERSUS

OLEUM

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Oleum is a screen-based opera commissioned by Sydney Opera House and conceived by VERSUS, offering a bold reimagining of opera for the screen. The film follows a wounded mechanic as he journeys across Sydney in an attempt to hear the plaintive song of a local waitress one final time.

Departing from the traditional confines of the Opera House, Oleum reconstructs operatic form through contemporary cinematic language, using the city itself as both stage and subject. Shot on location across Sydney, the work foregrounds the city’s creative communities while positioning local voices within a global cultural context.

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'Oleum' - A Sydney Opera

The film features alt-R&B artist Maina Doe and Kevin Stathis, frontman of post-punk / hip-hop project Shady Nasty, with an original score by internationally acclaimed composer Corin. Directed by VERSUS(Tanya Babić and Jason Sukadana), the creative team includes award-winning cinematographer Tyson Perkins, theatre and opera designers Charles Davis and Emma White, and interdisciplinary fashion designers Injury(Dan Tse and Eugene Leung).

Concept, creative direction, artist curation, and film direction were led by VERSUS, with production by Subversus, Oleum reflects VERSUS’ commitment to crafting high-concept, culturally resonant work that endures beyond format, while championing a breadth of contemporary creative perspectives.

The film screened to an invited audience at the Sydney Opera House, premiered digitally on NOWNESS, and is currently screening internationally.