‘Straining Every Sinew’
Protest Banner / Series
Curve Gallery, Newcastle, Australia
June 2020
Statement:
Throughout the Covid 19 pandemic (& the UK BREXIT negotiations that preceded it) media channels have relayed powerful, omnipresent, messaging. We, the people, have been corralled, controlled and manipulated by a series of intense governmental briefings designed to save our lives and livelihoods (and of course the economy). Yet, as a species, we are presently threatened by a far larger and more pressing scenario that has the ability to overwhelm life as we know it. From species decline to global warming via ocean acidification and an ever-increasing carbon footprint, we are reaching and exceeding tipping-points which will radically impact upon our ecosystems ability to survive, let alone flourish.
In response, a series of protest banners embody majestic moral protestations taken from actual governmental announcements. They are rousing, energising and designed to stimulate action but none of the original meanings point to the climate crisis. Having lived through 20 of the warmest years on record, and with species loss totalling 60% of the worlds mammals, birds, fish and reptiles over the last 45 years, the time has come to read the signs that surround us. To take action and to strain every sinew.
“…for the sake of the future, for the sake of our community and the rising generation who will inherit this scorched Earth, one can only hope there will be enough people remaining who retain the common decency to listen, to heed the cries of those in harm’s way, who will now together take decisive and collective action to save our ecosystem and our civilisation from collapse.
.”
— Carol Sparks, Mayor of Glen Innes Severn Council, New South Wales, Australia
‘We've been in bushfire hell in Glen Innes – and the scientists knew it was coming’
11/11/19 - The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/nov/11/weve-been-in-bushfire-hell-in-glen-innes-and-the-scientists-knew-it-was-coming
Curve Gallery (Australia) was borne out of a sister space originally founded in 2007 in Liverpool by Lisa Who & Wayne Heaton:
“Our art practice and exhibition model is inspired by the gallery-without-borders concept. Curve’s vision is to support, engage and expose artists by providing destination creative spaces that offer a direct link between Australia and Europe.
Curve’s exhibition programme attracts an expansive network of international artists and fosters opportunities for commissions, collections, residencies and further collaborations.
After receiving critical acclaim throughout the 2008 Liverpool European Capital of Culture year and during the Liverpool Biennials (UK) Curve successfully continued to curate and promote exciting contemporary work within the UK before migrating their activities to Newcastle, Australia.
Address: 61 Hunter Street, Newcastle, New South Wales
