Gabrielle Bates

"Gods in a box"

showing until 17 September 2009

Gods in a Box considers objects associated with veneration and cultural value. The project first came into being at SLOT in April 2008. It has since travelled from Redfern to Kuala Lumpur then Penang, evolving along the way from a simple exploration of treasure vs junk into an intense questioning about the process of relocation and reframing. Ideas about cultural tradition, spirit, freedom and redundancy emerged throughout the journey.

The outcomes have been surprising; there was a rising of spirit - a rebellion of sorts. Malaysian beliefs regarding hauntings, non-attachment to property of the dead and “freeing of the spirit” informed the direction of the project. The paintings transformed from “still-life” to “life-still” - representations of the objects slowly freed themselves from their suggested bondage, leaving behind only shadowy spaces, peace and quiet.

On return to Sydney, Gods in a Box - its paintings and associated objects - literally closed down again, returning full circle to the musty lair of storage bays and forgotten boxes. What culminates here at SLOT is a new pile of objects, of veneration or perhaps trash, boxes within boxes, frames within frames. It is the echo of a journey now complete.