The birds are lucky, they are unharmed, 2024
Mixed media installation, single channel video, five-channel audio, bathroom mirrors, louvre window
8 min 43 sec
Northern Centre for Contemporary Art, Darwin, Australia
17th October to 16th November 2024
As you enter the gallery, you’re immediately enveloped by a haunting soundscape that transports you to the sacred banks of the Ganges in Varanasi. On the wall, a mirrored bathroom cabinet catches your eye. As you approach, you realise it’s not a mirror at all, but a video screen offering a window into a deeply personal moment. The dimly lit bathroom, illuminated only by a solitary candle, becomes a poignant metaphor for life’s fragility. In the flickering candlelight, a figure comes into focus – a man hunched over on the toilet, his trembling hand furiously scribbling on a writing pad. The scene is charged with emotion, as you realise you’re witnessing a father’s final moments of communication with his loved ones In the scene, the bathtub, filled with still water, reflects the candlelight, creating a sense of timelessness. This ordinary bathroom has been transformed into a liminal space, suspended between life and death, mirroring the belief that Varanasi is where one can escape the cycle of rebirth. The artist’s voice, now aged sixty, reads aloud the words written by his father decades ago. This auditory element bridges the gap between past and present, creating a powerful dialogue between generations. The trembling voice echoes the vulnerability of the figure in the video, adding layers of emotion to the installation. This artwork blends visual, auditory, and emotional elements to explore themes of mortality, family, and the sacred. It invites viewers to contemplate their own relationships with life, death, and memory.
Supported by Creative Australia
Andrew Belletty 