Here are my two entries into this year’s BA Prize. This year I chose to comment on something that happened during the year and take a swipe at the banter of a politician. What if the self-proclaimed ‘I’m the Fixer’ Christopher Pyne, MP was shown to be fixed himself – an introspective look at this prim and proper pollie with his porcelain skin and perfect diction. The Porcelain Pyne was born. The other work is a two-piece showing two sides of our now Deputy PM. It looks at the famous Pistol and Boo saga with Johnny Depp’s lil dogs that were ‘smuggled’ in during filming of the latest Pirates franchise. I have a personal view on this but unfortunately it goes against the grain of what the law is. It, quite frankly, has been a waste of fossil fuel and man, woman (and canine) hours.
My piece – ‘Barnaby and Joyce aka Bugger and Off’ – mocks this whole episode. But with the BA Prize it pays to have a crystal ball of sorts and try to pre-empt what is still being talked about upon conceptual ideas as an artist, producing the work, and then being selected for the 10-month tour. will they still be talking about Pistol and Boo? (Well it is still going through the courts.) And, Porcelain Pyne? Well he seems like that little obnoxious kid at a birthday party who steals the smarties of the birthday cake before cutting, then blames the dog for it. You know the type … ?
I could have done ‘Choppergate’ or focussed on Malcolm as my subject but there’s always plenty of clever concepts on show at the exhibition and well worth a look. I just wanted to offer some idea of my thought processes, albeit a bit left of centre.
Both pieces must have struck a contemporary cord, as I was fortunate to have both selected. The Prize opened in Watson ACT on 12 Feb until 14 March 2016. It comes to Sydney when the winner will be announced in late July. http://www.baldarchy.com.au.
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