15 September, 2008 - 3 October, 2008
Residency – installations, performances, blog
Former Arcane Bookshop, 214 William St. Northbridge
Site Fiction was a three-week collaborative project in a closed, yet very exposed, shop front. The impetus for the project came from a need to access a space which would allow us to experiment with collaboration, installation and performance; and a frustration with seeing countless empty spaces in the area screaming out to be used, enlivened and activated. The project, therefore, started out as an experiment- how far could we get approaching East Perth Redevelopment Authority (EPRA), proposing temporary access to the former Arcane Bookshop for a collaborative residency. The work itself was based on a simple response process: to the physical conditions of the space; to the limitations of time, money and no public access; and to our collective and individual creative interests. We explored many forms and mediums over the course of the project including installation, projection, performance and drawing, and were committed to changing the space every day, resulting in very direct and immediate sense to the works. The concept of ‘activation’ was truly realised and it was clear that the works were most successful and interesting when we were present and the process viewed. The use of a blog allowed us to extend our ideas beyond the physical limits of the site and communicate with an interested public. This allowed people to respond to the work, creating a reciprocal exchange and contributing to an increased awareness and discussion about art in Perth.
