Wednesday 23 July 2008

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A small hiatus and Bethany is back on track. Her long awaited branding is soon to happen, with acclaimed jeweller fashioning a good ol' fashioned branding iron, Trainer Akean Lewinski booked in for the strike, astrologers consulting the stars, cameras at the ready and the staff at Centrelink eagerly awaiting her dole form. She is branding her Centrelink customer reference number (CRN in dole-speak) onto her left forearm. 'Political' you say?! Dangerous! Third degree burns!

7 comments:

Dr Clam said...

Now, that *is* silly.

Please don't. :(

Marco Parigi said...

This is not art! It is a Clayton's political statement. What it lacks is a vision of where you want the world to be, or how you place yourself in it!

Anonymous said...

The art you make when you’re not making art.

“Of course it’s Art” says the artist, because that is her contemporary intention (thankful to have been born into a time that presupposes such facts). If art referenced the past (as this piece explicitly does), the present (as performance attempts) and the future it leaves no space for the witness (audience) to imagine and exercise free thought. The piece is not an essay. Art can’t always offer solutions but can always posit questions.
Not to say that art can’t and Bethany won’t ever hint at the future.

For the sake of argument, a number in a queue at Centrelink is a valid place to be and exist in time. It is a political action by default and references several concepts that she has been working with, specifically, the Artist as scapegoat and transmuter of universal karma.

“My vision of the future in regards to Centrelink: Job network agencies for artists that double as ‘crit’ type out-come based university style institution with grant-writing and marketing exercise requirements.”

Anonymous said...

represent!

Anonymous said...

the other day i was at my job network and everybody had to say to the group what kind of job they are looking for, when it got to me my first thought was to say "Oh, I already have a job. I'm just here cos I need the money." But when I realised that was inappropriate it was too late and so I just said nothing and stared.

Anonymous said...

Third degree burns are very, very, very painful. London to a brick gal, you'll pass out and miss the effect and I'd wager, you'll be getting plastic surgery before you're 45 to repair the damage you've done.

I fully support your need to express your frustration in being treated so abysmally by Centrelink but scarring your body is something you will live to regret. Totally. I suggest you grow up a little. Seriously, the only way to beat the bastards is to never allow yourself to be under their 'control' ever again or in any way dependent on bastard government bureaucracies. They do not care and they never will.

Dr Clam said...

Way to go, anonymous! Ixnay on the ainpay, I reckon.