Often the best writing about art is simple and easy to understand – something that’s not always synonymous with ‘art-speak’ and the language encountered in art galleries and exhibition reviews. Community Critics sees a range of people from different backgrounds write responses to Floating Land projects, describing and interpreting them through their own lens.

COMMUNITY CRITIC: Cherie O’Sullivan (Environment Officer)

Van T Rudd

The Eviction

Us and them – what are your thoughts looking at this scene?... I felt so uncomfortable when this piece was first described to me to write about … I felt extremely uncomfortable that someone who has not (to my knowledge) gone through a certain life experience, nor sought to understand how this art piece will make individuals in this community they are representing feel, has made such a work … I judged that it did not feel right.

But being asked to write this piece forced me to notice the critical importance of perspective and context.

With my Environment Officer life experience, I saw it is in fact the bus stop, usually installed by a government institution, which is out of place here. State Government approval checks and balances are needed here – this close to the water – to ensure public funds are not misspent on infrastructure that could be affected by future coastal erosion events and place people at risk of injury. If it was to be permanent, it is this unapproved bus stop here that induces intense anxiety in me.

Meanwhile look up at the river and breathe in – one of the best and healing views to nourish all our human spirits.