The Second Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art, Brisbane, Australia, 1996 : Report

Fiona Hall, best known as a photographer, has combined the art forms of photography, sculpture and installation for the 1 996 Triennial. The work is entitled Give a dog a bone. A life-size photograph of an elderly man, clothed in mesh cloak woven from aluminium Coke cans, is surrounded by supermarket boxes, and representations of everyday objects carved in soap by the artist. This exquisitely refined work involves multiple layers of irony and symbolism; it refers to the tradition of Western portraiture, and the human alienation engendered by technological development. It also comments on the excessive 'taming' of nature , offering an engaging view on contemporary cultures' values and attitudes. Mu Consulate and Margaret Mead memorial sand pit is a further development of Luke Roberts's major installation, Wunderkammer/Kunstkamera, presented at the Gallery 1 994-95. This work is a culture and trade pavilion of the lost continent of Mu. It comprises a rich collection of objects as well as documentary photographs and maps of the legendary, submerged continent. Combining the mythical with the real and the surreal, the artist creates works that challenge the linear and rational notions of history. In pushing the boundaries of good taste my work renounces the concept of H istory as a rational progression of events. To quote Pope Alice who is quoting someone else, "History is fable agreed upon". (extract from artist's statement) Kathy Temin uses spare, simple forms to create environments that focus on memory and the inter-relationships between personal and social histories. Her installation Ideal home dis-play comprises two large white boxes lined with artificial fur, and mixed media. The artist has worked extensively on the theme of the house/shelter. 'I spent some time looking for shelters and homes for animals, the kinds you see in pet shops. Obviously we don't live in these homes ourselves but it's interesting how they are informed by how we perceive comfort, what we assume a pet would like, how we assume they would want to live' says the artist. Ideal home dis-play creates a somewhat morbid, slightly humorous, claustrophobic atmosphere and refers to mourning rituals. The visitors are invited to enter the spaces and to physically and mentally interact with the work. 25