Here’s what we knowShown as part of The National Photography Prize 2024, Murray Art Museum Albury (NSW), March – September 2024, also shown at Goolugatup Heathcote (WA), June – July 2024, and Hillvale Gallery (Vic), 2 March – 2 April, 2023.
Consider the telegraph poles, tracing a path walked for a very long time. The bitumen and the boreholes; the rest stops, the monuments, and the highway names. The distance between here and there, collapsed into the size of a holiday, or a weekend away.
This work was imaged and conceived across many locations within the lands of the Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung, Whadjuk Nyoongar, Jinigudera, Yapurarra, Pindjarup, Nyaki Nyaki, Kalarko, Ngadju, Kaalamaya, Wongatha, Mirniny, Wirangu, Barngarla, Kokatha, Arabana, Arrernte, and Meintangk people. Sovereignty was never ceded.
Here’s what we know is sort of about driving and tourism and extraction and technology and fantasy. About setting out for very long walks, the visual identity of highways, and the vernacular of the plaques and carved stone that mark the way. About trying to make sense of it all. It’s a slide show of things we’ve seen, and things we think we know; about 21st century mobility and colonial place-making; ice-creams and tesla chargers; and living in this place, at this time, in this way.
This project has been in development since 2020, and contains photographs taken since 2016, predominantly along the major highways connecting the south-west and south-east coast, and up to the centre. It was first show at Hillvale Gallery in March 2023, and in 2024 was shortlisted for the National Photography Prize (MAMA).
REVIEW ︎︎︎ George Criddle, Here’s what we know, Memo Review
READ ︎︎︎ Jake Treacy, (Re)Cruising Utopia, MAMA
Elements:
Two car seat headrest TVs on fabricated aluminium stands at the artists eye heights. Video slideshows of screenshots from mapping software, moving around/discovering monuments to ‘Australian’ colonial ‘explorers’, interspersed with stills from car advertisements
Vintage collectable mining stickers and postcards, assembled on eco green plastic
Slide projector and carousel playing 80 slides of artists photography on rotation; travelogue accompanied with narration by the artists (length variable), sound design by Bonnie Cummings
This project was originally made possible through support from Yarra City Arts Annual Grants Program, and the City of Melbourne’s COVID-19 quick response grants. Many thanks to Tristen Harwood for the generous conversations, Bonnie Cummings for the sound design, and Marcello Rotar for the headrest stand fabrication. Thanks also to Nanette Orly at MAMA, Guy Louden at Goolugatup Heathcote, Andy Johnson, Jason Hamilton and Sarah Pannell at Hillvale Gallery and to those who provided input, feedback and install assistance along the way.
First three images from Goolugatup Heathcote, images Dan McCabe, followed by the National Photography Prize 2024, Murray Art Museum Albury, images Jeremy Weihrauch. Subsequent Hillvale Gallery install images Aaron Claringbold and opening night images Sarah Pannell.