Exhibition 2020 | Photo
| Opal King
BELONGING IN THE MIDST The objective of my project was exploring the surrounding struggles and internal conflictions when “belonging in the midst” of two cultures. The questions were designed for the chosen individuals to deliver an expressive, introspective response about their personal experience of being a ‘third culture kid’. The term defines an ‘individual who is raised in a culture other than their parents or the country of nationality.’ The diverse group of individuals aid in reflecting Australia’s vast demographic population, emphasising the deep complexities and subjection on this topic. The two distinguishable portraits per individual employ direct irony to the arrogant assumptions white Australians project onto BIPOC citizens, by perceiving them solely through their physicality than the identity they present themselves as. In reflection of my final work, I urge the viewer to reflect on their behaviour and attitudes that reinforce microaggressions and bigotry. Name: William Foster Title of work: 1. Fridge in which bodies are stored 2. Preparing for funeral #1 3. Cupboard of mortuary room 4. Preparing for funeral #2 5. Mortuary room 6. Loading coffin into hearse Medium: Inkjet Print Over the past few years I have become fascinated with the topic of death and the industry that surrounds it, after researching about the practices surrounding death in other countries and reading a non-fiction book about the life of a mortuary technician within the U.K, I decided that I really disliked how the western world perceives death and the funeral industry so negatively. The people who work in the funeral industry are seen as ‘creepy’ or ‘strange’ when in fact they are everyday hard-working people who put a lot of emotion and care into their work. For my works I visited Gabrielle Walsh Funeral Services and photographed the space and the staff at work. The aim of my final works was to destigmatise the funeral industry and display that those who work in the industry are normal everyday people who work hard to help those during often, very emotional times. People see death as confronting, but if western countries discussed the topic more and made it less taboo, death would be perceived how it should be, just a part of life. |
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