The boycott was in the limelight for a few weeks, which was effective in drawing public attention to the issues of corporate involvement in mandatory offshore detention and arts funding arrangements. However, though ties between the Biennale and Transfield were severed, there has been no significant impact on the government’s treatment of refugees or corporate involvement in detention centres as a result of the protest. Further, the Biennale continued as planned, with most if the boycotting artists choosing to exhibit following the severing of ties. In fact, some of those artists were the worst affected by their own actions, given their artworks have lost impact after last minute installation arrangements left them hidden away and poorly presented.
It is our belief that it is through artworks that perspectives can be altered and real change can be inspired. The exhibition will focus on the issue of asylum seekers by exhibiting artworks that draw attention to the treatment of persecuted and displaced persons in the context of political unrest, war, or detainment. It is important for people in first world countries such as Australia not to brush these issues aside and forget that refugees are humans with rights, families, and aspirations that deserve to be protected.
Do You See What I See? will showcase art that creates new perspectives. The artworks will open visitors’ minds to an important alternate reality, where humans are living in war torn areas, where humans are persecuted to the point where fleeing their country is their only hope for survival, where humans are detained indefinitely in the process of seeking asylum in a country like Australia.
The exhibition will seek to present a sympathetic perspective, highlighting an unpleasant alternate reality that is simultaneously occurring alongside our first world reality of safety and security. Do You See What I See? will implore visitors to look beyond their local context, establishing a more comprehensive global perspective that takes into account the reality of persecuted and displaced persons.
Do You See What I See? allows a selection of international artists to share their unique perspective, whether they protested the 18th or 19th Biennale of Sydney or have first hand experience of a war zone or have lived through civil unrest. These artists will share artworks that explore their passion for the cause of refugees and their opinions about displacement, persecution, and political unrest.
During the recent controversy surrounding Transfield and the 19th Biennale of Sydney, a number of commentators and politicians, such as Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Senator George Brandis, were quick to deny that the artists’ challenge to both the Biennale and the Australian government policy would have any effect. Our exhibition prioritises and showcases the use of art to convey meaningful perspectives, giving these artists a chance to convey messages through their art, rather than simply creating controversy. The exhibition will aim to alter visitors' thinking, open their eyes to situations not only on our shores but around the world, and hopefully plant seeds for change.
We are unfortunately confident that the issue of the treatment of asylum seekers will not be resolved in two years time, and we hope the exhibition will be relevant and impactful given the next federal election is due in 2016.
