Materials: transparent fabric, salt, salted outfits
Old Sydney Hotel, HILL END, NSW
Commission for THE END FESTIVAL 2017
Sydney Hotel, Clarke Street, Hill End, NSW
This site-specific work investigates the psychology of gold fever and acknowledges its tragic downside while reflecting on our modern day society’s addiction to over consumption and the impacts on our natural resources. It celebrates Hill End’s successful gold mining history while investigating the psychology of gold fever and the desire for wealth. In the 1870’s Sydney Hotel was in the heart of Hill Ends booming commercial centre. Clarke Street was lined with pubs and shops offering endless opportunities to spend this now found prosperity. In turn this installation reflects on our modern day society’s addiction to over consumption and materialism, emphasising the increasing values place on natural resources and highlighting water as: ‘gold of the future…’ “In the marketing society, we seek fulfilment but settle for abundance. Prisoners of plenty, we have the freedom to consume instead of our freedom to find our place in the world.” Clive Hamilton.
Photos by Karl Schwerdtfeger Karl Schwerdtfeger Website
Sally Kidall 