Originally I had intended all three propositions for the exhibition How does a network activate a public? to be wall statements only. Thus the third proposition is the most speculative and least determined:
World distribution of the Shy Albatross Thalassarche cauta according to http://www.iucnredlist.org/
The Shy Albatross Thalassarche cauta flies in a ‘casual, hump-backed, lanky, droop-winged manner’ across the southern latitudes. A number of races are recognised breeding on selected islands off Australia and New Zealand. It is a ship-follower and fish processing waste comprises a significant proportion of its diet. It dives for food and circles dolphins waiting for scraps. Like many albatrosses its populations are affected by longline fishing.
What does it mean to engage with the life of a Shy Albatross? For most of its life it is unseen and unobserved hunting over the deep waters of the open ocean. I’d like to connect up with artists making with a ‘shy’ practice.
The proposition will be exhibited in How does a network activate a public? THE SOUTH PROJECT – AN EXHIBITION OF IDEAS 22 November to 5 December, West Wing, second level of Melbourne Central, www.westspace.org.au
The work was developed in response to the statement: “As a network of arts and crafts practitioners, arts workers, writers, and others interested in culture in the southern hemisphere, The South Project asks: how can individuals and a community facilitate culture in public, and with the public?” http://www.southproject.net/
What is a ‘shy’ practice? disconnected? hidden? Below the radar?
Please let me know the conceptual framewrok for Proposition 3. I am keen to move from shy to seen.
Cheers,
Catherine van Wilgenburg
Hi Catherine
Thanks for your reply. I am throwing proposition 3 out there to see what other people think. I am interested in contemporary art that struggles on despite not being the centre of attention. In the context of making connections across the southern hemisphere things that strike me (not having been to a South Project event in person) is that (a) Most of my art contacts are UK, Canada, USA (b) To my shame I don’t have contact with southern hemisphere artists from countries other than AU and NZ. The closest I get is Colombia. (c) Those famous artists that get shown in biennales are the same no matter where you go in the world!
My idea was to propose the question and see what happens; but it’s not my intention to provide a vehicle for artist promotion per se. There are lots of ways to get ‘seen’ by joining organisations, finding online interest groups or the many standard arts marketing techniques. As a proposition I’m interested in other more conceptual ways of doing this across the southern hemisphere.
best of luck
Perdy