Reality Check: watching Sylvania Waters

Overview

Long before Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson graced our screens in Newlyweds; before The farmer wants a wife and the chaotic disaster of Britney and Kevin’s love life chronicled, there was the (Aussie) mother of all reality shows: Sylvania Waters. The 1992 documentary followed the day-to-day happenings of Sydney couple Noeline Baker and Laurie Donaher and their grown-up kids, and quickly became a cringeworthy cult classic (largely due to the cantankerous character of Noeline). Sydney-based artist and curator, Daniel Mudie Cunningham, has brought together ten contemporary artists and artists collectives to make work that responds to the tv show in the exhibition, Reality Check: watching Sylvania Waters. The exhibition has been in the pipeline for over two years, and throughout 2009 each artist and group undertook a residency at the Hazelhurst Regional Gallery where they were graciously granted access to episodes of the show and media surrounding the rise and fall of the Baker/Donaher clan.
 
Reality Check explores all facets of Sylvania Waters, presenting work across mediums. Artists Archie Moore and Holly Williams examine the mechanics of the reality show (something that we all have become unwitting authorities on nowadays). Artist collaborative Ms. & Mr. ponder what could have been with their video piece on the Archibalds of Glebe, runners up to star in the 1992 show.
 
Noeline was undoubtedly the star, and for anyone old enough to remember the show, she is the first thing that springs to mind. The Kingpins and John A Douglas explore what it means to be Noeline. Try your luck with mermaid-cum-advice columnist in Douglas’ Ask Noeline … (not an ogre).
 
Reality Check will be like a walk down memory lane for some, but let’s just hope all this attention won’t spark talk of a reunion Hey Hey style.
 
 
John A Douglas, Ask Noeline … (not the ogre) 2009, screen capture from video installation, courtesy the artist and Chalk Horse Sydney