What are the borderlands? Who determines them and why? Who may cross? Who may not? Who does deliberately cross the borders? Where are they from? Why are they leaving? What are their hopes? What is their journey? What do they bring with them? Are they welcomed or turned back? Do they just disappear? Who cares? Who doesn’t?
In 2007 Clyde began exploring the landscape of the borderlands as they relate to people who travel by sea, focussing on the tragic story of a young Indonesian fisherman, who died on a boat detained in Darwin harbour. The Border Crossers: Clyde McGill exhibition contains his story within a much broader narrative of the refugee who comes by boat. It is a narrative of horror and loss, of hope and fear, of deprivation, determination, disillusionment, despair and death of one kind or another. It is an immersive experience, a journey travelled via the images and text of the major Border Crosser works, the richness of the Borderwear, the contemplation of the Libretto of the Borderland and the meditative vigil of the Dolorosa, which presents the ‘stations’ of the border cross(ers), the sadness and the eventual end in a watery Calvary.
This exhibition includes works from the Janet Holmes à Court Collection and works from the artist’s collection, as well as a new series of works which are for sale.
Clyde McGill will be in residency on the studio floor in the gallery from 1 – 22 July, Tues – Sun. He will be making new work and will be available to talk with visitors.
For interviews, further information and images available for reproduction, contact Sharon Tassicker.
