The physical space of an unemployment centre is one of the key themes in the Curtin graduate’s upcoming exhibition. Her multimedia installation will include a fictional documentary, parliament footage and an audio piece that work together to ‘recreate the emotional atmosphere of the place and present conflicting ideologies’.
Recreating that clash between high expectations and bleak reality is, she hopes, a way to promote the need for real change in Australia’s welfare system.
What does the artist hope people will take from her latest work? ‘It might be wishful thinking’, Taylor says, ‘but I’d like people to think a bit more about what they can do to really fight back, or at least be critical of the direction that our welfare system is moving towards.’
She doesn’t intend for the exhibition to be all doom and gloom, though. She describes it as ‘humorous and playful – in a devastatingly funny sort of way’ and hopes people can really relate to the issues she’s putting forward. ‘Even though I’m presenting my individual experience here, it’s a collective experience as well. I’m hoping that I can have lots of really interesting conversations with people at the exhibition, because everyone’s got a Centrelink horror story.’ She’ll be in attendance at the exhibition on opening night, Friday September 8 between 8 and 6pm so come and share your story.
I Know How Hard It Can Get is showing at Moana Project Space, 618 Hay St Perth, from September 8 – 30. Find out more.
Lectures & Talking