Brook Andrew: The Cell
An inflatable installation you can jump on — if you can temper your anxiety about whether it's a sanctuary or detention.
Overview
Brook Andrew has spent much of his extensive career exploring the dominant narratives and histories around colonialism through large-scale gallery interventions and immersive installations. One such major installation is The Cell, a work that was first shown at Sydney's Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation and is now temporarily installed at The Substation in Newport. It invites audiences to take part in a jumping castle experiment, which muddies the distinction between 'sanctuary and detention'. Adorned with traditional Wiradjuri patterns, the inflatable space creates a stimulating juxtaposition with its light-hearted format meeting a sense of anxiety as Andrew conjures the illusion of shrinking and constricting whilst inside.
Over a long and successful career, Andrew's interdisciplinary talents have seen him exhibiting internationally since 1996, where he often works closely with diverse communities along with public and private collections. The Cell is on display now for a short time only, closing Saturday June 10.
