Anonymous
ANONYMOUS
Part of the ARTillery Sydney project created by Amnesty International
PINE STREET GALLERY, NSW, AUSTRALIA
NOVEMBER 2013.
The piece was a response to the issue of Asylum Seekers in particular the stimulus 'Out of Sight, Out of Mind'.
Anonymous offers the viewer a distorted world, an edited experience that plays with the perception of asylum seekers, asylum seekers perceptions and ones own identity. The work asks when the perception of ones-self is adjusted can our perceptions of others be altered?
Members of the public were invited to have their photo taken before entering a box. A sloped ceiling pushes the viewer down to their knees. The viewer peaks through holes in the side of the box and views partial scenes from the studio; people viewing other art works, crowds chatting or people looking towards the installation itself, seemingly oblivious to what or who might be inside.
Meanwhile the viewer’s photograph is issued with a number and displayed. The viewer watches their own photo develop through the peep holes, via a warping mirror.
A soundscape floods the box, true, personal stories about life as an asylum seeker.
Mark would like to thank and acknowledge the translators and voice artists; Margarita Gershkovich, Brynn Loosemore, Nina, and also Tom Bannerman for the expert construction of the piece.
"An unusual, surreal and distorting experience" - Audience member
"I work with asylum seekers, i had no idea." - Audience member
"If everyone could view this we would view each other differently." - Audience Member
Listen to the experience here
