Containment, or 704 Days
Selected for the 20th International Silver Triennial exhibition at the Deutsches Goldschmiedehaus Hanau, Germany, from October 30, 2022
On March 20, 2020, as Covid-19 was spreading across the globe, Australia closed its borders to the world. While in theory it was still open to citizens and residents, for 704 days movement in and out of the country was severely limited, due in no small part to the lack of available flights and lack of quarantine facilities but also to the then Federal Government’s intransigence and lack of compassion.
Like many (49% of Australians were born overseas or have parents who were born overseas) I have family overseas, and during 2020 and 2021 I was deeply affected by the absence of family members who were unable to return to the country, while I of course could not leave. Then, in August 2021, the Federal Government quietly expanded its ban on Australian citizens leaving the country, meaning that if you had in fact been able to return, you may not be able to leave again.
On February 21, 2022 the borders reopened, a date chosen more for political expediency than anything else.
My vessel, Containment, or 704 days is a work that I made this year after the border had reopened. The vessel was raised by hand from flat sheet, and there are 704 indelible marks on the vessel, each one representing another day of containment.
Like many (49% of Australians were born overseas or have parents who were born overseas) I have family overseas, and during 2020 and 2021 I was deeply affected by the absence of family members who were unable to return to the country, while I of course could not leave. Then, in August 2021, the Federal Government quietly expanded its ban on Australian citizens leaving the country, meaning that if you had in fact been able to return, you may not be able to leave again.
On February 21, 2022 the borders reopened, a date chosen more for political expediency than anything else.
My vessel, Containment, or 704 days is a work that I made this year after the border had reopened. The vessel was raised by hand from flat sheet, and there are 704 indelible marks on the vessel, each one representing another day of containment.