Fly swat
SKU:
Fly swat
YEAR. 2023
MEDIUM. charcoal on cement fibreboard
DIMENSIONS. 48 x 170cm
EXHIBITION HISTORY.
2023 The Good, Co-Curated by Dr Lee-Anne Hall, Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, NSW & Rachel Arndt, Wangaratta Art Gallery NSW/The Condensery – Somerset Regional Art Gallery QLD (National tour with Museums & Galleries of New South Wales 2023-2026)
COLLECTION. Available
"Flies are a mainstay of farming life. There are many kinds that proliferate at different times of year, depending on if there are cows in the yards or around the house, or if there is rain and heat or food around. Most despised is the blowfly.
On the farm all the windows and doors have flyscreens, and the refrain “shut the door” is common in our house especially when city guests visit and courteously hold the door open. Cheap red and yellow plastic fly swats are an abiding memory of childhood - there was one in every room. At night my sister and I were often awoken by a massive thwack from my parent’s bedroom upstairs as they did away with a blowfly or mozzie with the trusty fly swat. A tradition I proudly continue with my kids today.
This work explores the value of this inexpensive, environmentally unfriendly item used for killing things which have a place and value in the wider ecosystem. Without flies there would be so much poo and no food for the birds and lizards that eat them, but on the other hand flies spread disease, maggots, drive herds mad with biting and are a complete nuisance."
YEAR. 2023
MEDIUM. charcoal on cement fibreboard
DIMENSIONS. 48 x 170cm
EXHIBITION HISTORY.
2023 The Good, Co-Curated by Dr Lee-Anne Hall, Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, NSW & Rachel Arndt, Wangaratta Art Gallery NSW/The Condensery – Somerset Regional Art Gallery QLD (National tour with Museums & Galleries of New South Wales 2023-2026)
COLLECTION. Available
"Flies are a mainstay of farming life. There are many kinds that proliferate at different times of year, depending on if there are cows in the yards or around the house, or if there is rain and heat or food around. Most despised is the blowfly.
On the farm all the windows and doors have flyscreens, and the refrain “shut the door” is common in our house especially when city guests visit and courteously hold the door open. Cheap red and yellow plastic fly swats are an abiding memory of childhood - there was one in every room. At night my sister and I were often awoken by a massive thwack from my parent’s bedroom upstairs as they did away with a blowfly or mozzie with the trusty fly swat. A tradition I proudly continue with my kids today.
This work explores the value of this inexpensive, environmentally unfriendly item used for killing things which have a place and value in the wider ecosystem. Without flies there would be so much poo and no food for the birds and lizards that eat them, but on the other hand flies spread disease, maggots, drive herds mad with biting and are a complete nuisance."