You workin'

Abstract

Background You Workin’ is a site-specific series that draws on the personal and collective histories of two disparate places. The phrase refers to a familiar statement from when I lived in inner-city Brisbane, my wife was often asked, as she was walking home if she “was working tonight darlin’?” The question references that time spent in Brisbane, as well the Brooklyn Bridge, a historic location for soliciting prostitution. The images of iconic American symbols such as the Statue of Liberty and the bald eagle, are re-contextualized by referring to contemporary events in the United States of America, where the Trump presidency threatens the historical legitimacy and legacy of western democracies, including our own.

Contribution Recently, I have spent several months in New York on residencies and educational travel, and I have become invested in the community and cultural life of the United States. The destabilization and potential criminality of the current administration raises questions that were never previously envisioned.

Significance Photoville is an internationally recognised photography festival that runs over two weekends in Brooklyn Bridge Park, New York, USA. The images displayed for the festival were consequently acquired by the Museum of Brisbane. The installation was supported by a grant from Arts Queensland.