Destination Unknown
September 1, 2002
The Citylights Project Inc. is a not-for-prof it artist run initiative which operates two public art sites in Melbourne's Flinders Lane Precinct. Conceived six years ago, the project was born out of a desire to reach people in the public domain - a much broader audience than is possible in the traditional gallery setting. The next show at Citylights is a collaboration between photographer Zoe Ali and writer Christos Tsiolkas (Auther of Loaded-made into the film Head On) entitled 'Destination Unknown'.
The work consists of four large-scale, full-colour images of the Australian landscape taken by Ali during a visit to the Woomera Detention Centre. Each one is overlaid by Tsiolkas' bold, thought provoking text. The images will be mounted in the Citylights light boxes and back-lit for maximum visibility day and night. The aim of the work is to raise questions about belonging to, and exclusion from, the land.
It is also an attempt to address the antagonisms directed towards asylum seekers in this country. With Woomera being the scene of forced removals of indigenous Australians, 'Destination Unknown' also addresses Aboriginal land rights issues as well as immigration issues.
Destination Unknown is on display from the 5th of September through to November the 29th 2002.