She'll be right for Brisbane art scene

Artist duo Clark Beaumont’s exhibition at Boxcopy ‘She’ll Be Right’ poses many a question about how each and every one of us reacts to typical Australian stereotypes and think of personal identity. Boxcopy, in the heart of Brisbane’s CBD, is housed in a rather old-fashioned building with creaking stairs and high ceilings, which one encounters before entering the exhibition space, setting the scene for a fascinating experience. This time, one may marvel at the video production of Clark Beaumont, the small room allowing for an up-close and personal encounter with the video. Though short, the video is long enough to leave the viewer hanging on what they have just seen, and watch it over and over again, not tiring of the circular chain of events.

Clark Beaumont: 'She'll Be Right', 2012
 & still from 'Muriel's Wedding', 1994

The video is reminiscent of renowned Aussie classics ‘Muriel’s Wedding’(1994) and ‘Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’ (1994) and New Zealand film ‘She’ll Be Right’ (2011), challenging what others may perceive as the Australian stereotype. Interestingly, male voices are used throughout while the actors are both female. What is this trying to say about gender roles and identity? Two girls run around in the backyard of a house, and each woman comes out of the house one at a time, both yelling ‘Perry! Wake up to yourself’ at the two girls in the yard, then storming back inside, slamming the door behind her. The Viewers then find themselves in a room witnessing an argument between the same two figures, something along the lines of: ‘It’s over my head now…it’s over your head, too’. The third scene sees the two girls sitting under a tree at sunset, chatting and gazing into the distance as if dreamily awaiting their futures, dreaming of new places and pursuing lives beyond their reach. Perhaps these references to Muriel’s Wedding is an indicator of the video’s use of the Postmodern theme of ‘representation’ in that it mocks the extreme Australian stereotypes seen in popular film and media by copying similar imagery. After this initial recognition that intertextuality is at play here, the video performance takes an interesting turn- one that will cause the viewer to question their identity and assess their personal reaction to what they see.

Clark Beaumont:
'She'll Be Right' , 2012 (video stills)

 Sarah Clark and Nicole Beaumont formed as a duo during their Fine Art degree at Queensland University of Technology in 2010. Having a background in live performances, it is no wonder that the video performance, acted out by the flamboyant pair, is so engaging. The video taps into our emotions, drawing out of each of us an individual reaction as we make personal connections with what we see. The fact that the actors do not address the camera/viewer directly has the effect of making the viewer feel like an intruder, an observer of private events within a dysfunctional household. Lurking beneath the surface of this satirical chain of conversations and arguments are the struggles of daily life- the ups and downs, the wins and losses- typical reactions to life that each of us can connect with as we find our footing and fly the nest as young adults. This intriguing insight into one representation of life, although somewhat exaggerated, is intriguing if not disturbing in its ability to resonate with each of us.

What struck me as quite unusual about this exhibition is that Boxcopy paid the artists to exhibit in their space, which is not the norm for most Artist-Run Initiatives; usually artists pay for a chance to exhibit in the space. Boxcopy certainly seems to want to take an active part in advocating for, promoting and sustaining art production and art appreciation in Brisbane. Not only this, but it also reflects the artistic energy in this city, and its current surge in the cultural field with QAGOMA of course, and areas like Fortitude Valley and Paddington and Wooloongabba flourishing as artistic hubs. So, is Boxcopy worth a visit? I think so! Grab a friend, and a coffee underneath the gallery, and head on up and take a look. It’s worth your time. Post Datum finishes on the 20^th October, so be quick!

If you’re interested in finding out more about Clark Beaumont, check out the Brisbane Emerging Arts Festival (BEAF), and Current Projects (Brisbane):

http://www.brisbaneemergingartfestival.com/

http://www.currentprojects.org/

If Sydney’s closer to home for you, there’s a Clark Beaumont exhibition waiting for you there, too:

http://safari.org.au/studio-visit-clark-beaumont/

 Images: 

• Clark Beaumont: 'She'll Be Right', 2012 & still from 'Muriel's Wedding', 1994
• Clark Beaumont: 'She'll Be Right', 2012

Clark Beaumont- She'll Be Right, n.d., image, viewed 18 October 2012, <http://bneart.com/2012/10/06/clark-beaumont-shell-be-right/

Clark Beaumont Facebook, n.d., image, viewed 18 October 2012, <http://www.facebook.com/clarkbeaumont>