Monument to Now
MoreArt 2020 is an exhibition of temporary public art works along the Upfield Bike Path in the northern suburbs of Melbourne
11- 29 November 2020 (postponed from April due to the pandemic)
Curator - Emily Cormack
Assistant Curator - Lana Nguyen
Artists - Adam John Cullen, Catherine Clover, Emma Gibson, Mira Oosterweghel, Sarah Walker, Patrick Pound, Michael Prior, Liquid Architecture with Timmah Bell, Jessie Scott and Joel Stern
External link

Lament
2020
Audio - field recording and spoken word
Duration 14’ 30”
Location on the Upfield Bike Path - Fawkner Cemetery

Lament is a site-specific audio response to the Fawkner Cemetery in northern Melbourne. Currently in the midst of the Covid-19 global pandemic, Melbourne is waiting for the tight second wave lockdown restrictions to be eased. The death toll in Australia is 859 today, 24 September 2020, and 771 of these have been in Victoria. This is a low number compared to many countries around the world, but the loss for family and friends is no less tragic. Family and friends may have been separated from loved ones during their last days, and full funerals have not been possible because of restrictions. These challenges have added greatly to the pain and grief of mourners.

This artwork is an acknowledgement of the grief surrounding the pandemic. In cemeteries, the expression of love from the living towards those who have died is incredibly moving and the public nature of such grief is profound. Spoken word is a focus in the audio but the voices of wild birds heard in the cemetery and around the gravestones are also included, as well as the sounds of everyday life around the cemetery. The behaviour of birds has been embraced in many cultures/faiths to divine meaning and foretell the future and birds can be understood as a connection between the earthly and the heavenly. In the audio some of the birds are referred to by their names in Woi wurrung, the language of the Wurundjeri people, the traditional owners of this part of Melbourne, and these translations have been kindly provided by Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Gail Smith. Barrawarn are Australian Magpies, Yan-Guk are Red Wattlebirds, Dit-Dit are Magpie-Larks.

The reading voice is based on a score that traces a walk that starts at the Gate House entry, and heads south past the Tea Rooms. It reflects the multi-faith orientation of the cemetery and the multicultural mix of the wider neighbourhood and surrounding suburbs, including Hebrew, Jewish, Islamic, Druses, Chinese, Swedish, Latvian Lutheran, Estonian Lutheran and Church of England faiths.

­­­Lament
Andante, Piano

In Loving Memory Of      Tina   Yohan         Umberto               Violet          Vera   Hazel                            Lujuana       Janice Zelda          Merna          Linda          Little Ravens Call                     Yan-Guk Calls
Rainbow Lorikeets Fly                        Lawn Mower         Pruning Motor
Barrawarn Silent     Then Sing    Then Sing    Then Warble                            Siren
1920                     1903                     At Rest                 Minnie         Colin          Kelvin         Maria           Hathalie                Lena   Mariel          John           Joseph         Adalberto     Nourel                 Stella          Gian            Laszlo          Elda            Rena           Sleeping In Peace                     Reunited With Dad

We Love You                                                   We Love You