8 Months Of War: A Public Archive is presented at DETACHED from May to December 2009. Occupying this deconsecrated colonial church in the heart of Hobart, Brook Andrew views it as a sacred place in which to reflect on conflict in the world. The artist invokes the site’s heritage by encouraging visitors to bring and lay flowers, to light a candle at the shrine, or to add such materials as newspaper cuttings, stories, images, or messages.

Brook Andrew envisages 8 Months Of War: A Public Archive to be a visual metaphor for the disasters inflicted on our planet and its occupants. The role of memory and the commemorative acts performed here are essential elements within this growing memorial. The final archive, in effect, becomes a time capsule. A sea of red cotton cuts lines through the multitude of visitors’ personal comments - as if a mine/mind field or barbed wire - encircling the thoughts and experiences of war and conflict. Below, wreaths, flowers and candles either commemorate or protest.

After all, as the artist asks, when are ‘we’ not at war?

Brook Andrew is a conceptually driven artist working in installation, mixed-media, text, neon, performance and video. His work challenges the self, cultural and historical perception and questions local and global issues regarding identity, consumerism and history. These themes inspire Andrew to engage with archival and public media and to travel locally and internationally, actively visiting museum collections and local communities to research and make new work.
After his 2009 Australia Council ISCP New York residency, Brook created ‘8 Months Of War: A Public Archive’ at Detached, Hobart and new screen based work for his next solo exhibition at Tolarno galleries, Melbourne.
Brook Andrew is represented by Tolarno Galleries, Melbourne.

8 Months Of War Public Program

Every Saturday at 2pm the Detached space at 7 Campbell Street, Hobart, will be hosting a lively public forum. Each of these events will feature a guest speaker directing a conversation, giving a unique perspective to the work exhibited that correlates to the artists approach in creating the public archive. Orchestrating and interviewing in each forum will be Craig Judd. Mr Judd, previously the Senior Curator of Art at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, has had extensive involvement with the development of the exhibition, working closely with the artist, Brook Andrew. Brook will also be present at a large number of these exciting dissections of the underlying themes evolving under public direction.

The schedule, running through the course of the exhibition, is as follows.

10 October- Lucy Bleach. Lecturer in Sculpture
17 October- John Vella. Lecturer in Sculpture, …
24 October- Jane Stewart. Head of Art, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery
31 October- Lucia Usmiani
7 November- Colin Langridge
14 November- Jane Deeth. Curator, art historian, arts educator Launceston
21 November- Julie Gough
28 November- Brigita Ozolins
5 December- Gala Closing Ceremony

These are public events, with anyone welcome to attend. Light refreshments will be supplied on the day.       

7 Campbell St Hobart
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