2016: Archive Project
Installation shot 2016 Archive Project, Mori Gallery, 2007
Social space is not a thing among other things, nor a product among other products: rather, it subsumes things produced and encompasses their interrelationships… Henri Lefebvre
2016: Archive Project is an artistic investigation into the inner city Sydney suburb of Redfern - the title representing both the postcode for Redfern and the expected completion date of this ten year project. This archive does not intend to be an objective study of the suburb – but a subjective exploration of the changes taking place within the area through the lens of the artists’ mutual interests in community and urban life. Each time the archive is exhibited it is re-invented but the emphasis on the local area of Redfern continues.
Redfern has an important place within the history of Sydney. It has traditionally been a poor area, home to migrant; Aboriginal; and low income communities. The Block forms the heart of Redfern and was one of the first urban areas bought back by the Aboriginal community for Aboriginal housing. The opening of the Eveleigh Rail-yard bought many working class people into the area before it was closed down in the late 80s. Today over 40% of Redfern residents still live in public housing.
With the rapid rate of real estate development throughout Sydney and the high costs of property, Redfern has become a prime target for “gentrification.” Redfern is situated between Sydney central and the airport, and is part of the land known as the city-airport corridor – its proximity to the city and (so far) lack of intensive development making it a key site for real estate speculation.
We have chosen nine physical sites for exploration in this archive – the same sites identified by the Redfern-Waterloo Authority (RWA) for urban renewal. We will not only document the physical changes in the suburb, however, but also the voices of the Redfern community who are affected by these changes.
Keg de Souza and Zanny Begg
for more information: www.2016archiveproject.com
We would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of this land, the Gadigal people.
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