public address (2006)

The research aims of the artwork Public Address were to produce a site-specific sculptural installation using humour to comment on the changing nature of public space as a contested site of political dissent. This resulted in an artwork which took the form of a discarded mega-megaphone. The sound usually associated with this portable loud speaking system, traditionally used by protest assembly and march organisers to rally and motivate demonstrators, was replaced by a very loud snoring sound. This is the first time this kind of sculptural work, integrating sound with sculpture, has been done, and as such it demonstrated new ways of creating public dialogue between the public space, its users and art. Internationally renowned curator Juliana Engberg selected the work for an international exhibition at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA), a leading venue for contemporary art in Australia. The Unquiet World exhibition showcased the work of 17 high profile national and international artists and achieved a high national impact, with critical reception in the national press (The Age, The Australian, Herald Sun), national radio and TV coverage. Rawlins, Jarrod The Unquiet World, Art & Australia Vol44 No2, Summer 2006, pp272-7, Political Art, on Deep End, ABC Radio National, Sian Pryor, Juliana Engberg and Chris McAuliffe, 2005. Juliana Engberg: The Unquiet World (catalogue essay), ACCA, 2005. Public address was purchased by Peter Farrell, chairman of the trustees, San Diego Contemporay Art Museum and MD of the medical equipment company Resmed. It is now on permanent exhibition at Resmed headquarters as part of its international art collection.

艺术作品《公共扩音》（Public Address）的创作初衷，是打造一件场域特定的雕塑装置，以幽默手法评点公共空间作为政治异议交锋场域的流变特质。该作品最终呈现为一件以废弃巨型扩音喇叭为载体的艺术装置。这件便携扩音装置原本多用于抗议集会与游行组织者集结、动员示威者，其标志性声响被替换为震耳欲聋的鼾声。这是首个将声音与雕塑相融合的此类雕塑作品，由此开辟了公共空间、空间使用者与艺术之间构建公共对话的全新路径。国际知名策展人朱莉安娜·恩伯格（Juliana Engberg）将该作品选入澳大利亚当代艺术中心（Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, ACCA）举办的国际展览——该中心是澳大利亚顶尖的当代艺术展陈场馆。此次展览名为《不平静的世界》（The Unquiet World），共展出来自17位国内外知名艺术家的作品，在澳大利亚国内引发广泛反响：全国性媒体（包括《时代报》《澳大利亚人报》《先驱太阳报》）均刊发了专业评论，同时获得了全国性广播与电视媒体的专题报道。相关引用信息如下：贾罗德·罗林斯（Jarrod Rawlins）：《不平静的世界》，《澳大利亚艺术》（Art & Australia）第44卷第2期，2006年夏季号，第272-277页；《政治艺术》，载于澳大利亚广播公司国家电台《Deep End》栏目，赛恩·普赖尔（Sian Pryor）、朱莉安娜·恩伯格与克里斯·麦考利夫，2005年。朱莉安娜·恩伯格：《〈不平静的世界〉展览目录文章》，澳大利亚当代艺术中心，2005年。《公共扩音》由彼得·法雷尔（Peter Farrell）收藏，他同时担任圣地亚哥当代艺术博物馆（San Diego Contemporary Art Museum）托管委员会主席，以及医疗设备公司瑞思迈（Resmed）的首席执行官。目前该作品作为瑞思迈国际艺术馆藏的一部分，于瑞思迈总部永久展出。