waterhole

The Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA) had escaped my art-radar so far because it is hides in the less frequented area of Southbank (and they obviously have a smaller marketing budget). But, admission is free, and I had nothing better to do then enjoy the warm weather and stroll down there. The current installation, Waterhole, by the swiss artists Gerda Steiner and Jörg Lenzinger is amazing. They created a tunnel made of branches and a silvery foil that whispers in the wind of the visitors movements. This tunnel leads to a high tree-like installation. Hidden behind this is a sort of observation room you have to go through to find three other rooms which are also part of the exhibition. In the first room there are 3 white beds inviting the visitor to lay down and gaze at the mobilés and the shadows they cast at the white walls. The second room is lined with fotographs of a woman lifting people. The third and smallest room was connected to the ocservation room via a tv screen and comprised a desk and some laboratory equipment, a machine to desalinize tears. All in all a very inspiring work.
The ACCA offers soundfiles for download here (for free), but be advised that Steiner and Lenzinger are from the German speaking part of Switzerland and have a really bad accent in their English which maks it hard to listen to the whole interview. (it physically hurts sometimes, sometimes also because of what they say).