Artist's 'burial' challenges views of imprisonment
In a packed gallery, Lucas Davidson was buried almost entirely beneath gravel to highlight the effects of solitary confinement.
Lucas Davidson's artwork 'Black Cell'. Photograph:聽Jessica Maurer
Davidson performed聽Black Cell聽at the聽Doing Time聽exhibition, which is being hosted by the University of Sydney's聽聽at Verge Gallery from July 16.聽
Davidson's endurance performance responds to the more than 60 days former prison inmate Brett Collins spent in solitary confinement in the 1970s.
"Black Cell, the work aims聽to聽bring awareness to a range of mental health issues that can be encountered in聽solitary confinement,聽including聽anxiety, paranoia, aggression and depression," says Davidson.
"The Sydney Institute of Criminology has a long history of probing the causes, impacts and responses to crime," says聽, its deputy director.
&辩耻辞迟;罢丑别听Doing Time聽exhibition seeks to explore experiences and perspectives of incarceration and imprisonment. With record numbers of prisoners 'doing time' currently in New South Wales, this exhibition is a timely reminder of the human costs of crime and punishment."
Through their work these artists help us to acknowledge that while certain subjects have a seemingly remarkable capacity for doing time, others have time done to them
Another work in the exhibition by Carolyn McKay, titled聽Model Prison, combines her artistry with her ongoing PhD in Criminology. McKay, who also lectures at Sydney Law School, says the court appearance of incarcerated defendants is increasingly facilitated by live links between courtrooms and prisons.聽
"Instead of embodied presence, inmates appear virtually, digitally encased and hermetically sealed on screens and remote from their own legal proceedings," says McKay.
Curator Carrie Miller says the works in聽Doing Time聽contribute to alternative discourses around the "politics and ethics of imprisonment".聽
"Through their work these artists help us to acknowledge that while certain subjects have a seemingly remarkable capacity for doing time, others have time done to them," says Miller.
Exhibition details
奥丑补迟:听Doing Time
When:聽Until August 8
Where:聽See map
Hours:聽10am-5pm Tuesday to Friday and 11am-4pm Saturday
Cost:聽Free to attend