artist statement:
Child Protection. Act.
a contemplation of agency, voice and legacy
Reflecting upon a care industry in crisis, the work confronts our personal, political and social responsibility, asks us to observe the word ‘act’ as a verb.
Informed by public literature including court reports, inquiries and Royal Commission submissions, the artist has chosen to keep the work free from text so as to symbolise the absence of the child’s voice in those documents and to encourage the viewer to engage with the stories embodied in skin.
materials:
dolls, as found
harness jack from an industrial looming machine
The Royal Commission into Child Protection in South Australia presented its report to the Governor on 5th August 2016. This work was first exhibited that same day.
In memory of Freda Briggs AO (1930-2016)
Emeritus Professor Freda Briggs, South Australia’s leading child protection expert, was an indefatigable advocate and advisor working on an International scale.
“Statistics tell us that one child is abused or neglected every 11 minutes in Australia”
indigo eli 