I’ve recently been involved in the CoLab exhibition which follows a great concept that involves a visual artist and a poet/writer collaborating a piece/s based on a common idea. For this show James W F  Roberts the poet and I worked on the concept of one being born of the Earth or Autochthon.

The world over. All traditional societies have rights of passage for boys to become men. In our current time in developed western society, we have very few real initiations into manhood. Sure, your first drive in a car without your mum/dad in the passenger seat is a great feeling. Or your first time venturing into the local pub can be seen as a new “manly” experience. But are these “adult” activities really what becoming a man is about? Is that it?

In my artwork I have explored the idea of the adult man being born a second time, but of the Earth. In traditional cultures, boys would go into a sacred cave or mountain on a quest to face their own fears and become the master of their own fate. When (sometimes if!) they return, they will know things are different for them and they are now a Man. The boy is born of their Mother. The man is born of the Earth.

I have also added the recital of my collaborator James W F Roberts and his piece under the same title.  LISTEN  HERE

I recommend “open in new tab” for James recital while looking at the artwork.

For those of you in VIC go have a look http://www.viewpointgallery.com.au/