+ urbanart + Andree Gersbeck & anne k. +

Andree Gersbeck & anne k.
Stairwell Public Office, West Melbourne
9 October 1998

These photos reflect a preoccupation with how cities present themselves to the world at large, unconsciously, subconsciously, even self-consciously. A city-scape is all about tradition and history versus progress and the modern. These photos capture some of this cities attempt at creating a sense of heritage, permanence and respectability.

Presenting them framed by broken windows is an attempt to subvert the image - are we looking at the window, or out the window? Is this view actually representative of something real, or simply a recording of a town planners concept of the ideal? It seems that, just as these buildings present us with a facade, so does photography...

These stills, or the stillness in these photographs are counterpointed by the accompanying piece - a toy model of the earth, a motorised globe that constantly turns and spins in a plastic fishbowl, following an erratic course that is totally unpredictable, set atop a clock that ticks, but never moves from its fixed time - 5 minutes before midnight.

An installation then, about restlessness, travel, randomness and chaos, movement with and against time, whilst time is running out; so absurd as to be almost funny, if only it didn't describe our modern condition so aptly.

Together these pieces encapsulate stillness and frenzy, whilst at the same time inviting us to question our notions of time and place.

Andree Gersbeck, October 1998