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'Labour Queen' by Eric Bridgeman (QLD)
Labour Queen
Artist Statement
‘Labour Queen’ explores the fictional character Boi Boi the Labourer from the body of work ‘The Sport and Fair Play of Aussie Rules’ (Eric Bridgeman 2008/09). In a quest for joy, integration and social identification, Boi Boi aims to dismantle the fundamental mechanics of gender and race; and decipher the role of the labourer and its public display.
‘The Sport and Fair Play of Aussie Rules’ (2008/09) is an interdisciplinary project that seeks to derange race and gender stereotypes underpinning national identities of contemporary Australia and Papua New Guinea, through a process involving painting, installation, performance, video and photography.
Bringing together stereotypical symbols, designs and roles in a cross-cultural analysis of my own dual heritage from Australia and the Chimbu Province of Papua New Guinea, these works consider the contemporary status of race, gender and cultural identity. Using typical cultural symbols from both nations, I construct environments and scenarios in which fictional characters interact and explore absurd tasks and activities inspired by two separate ways of everyday life. Performed in both public and private spaces, these carnivalesque acts are based on the paradoxical and improvised performances of its participants in environments that stimulate constructed rules of behaviour, such as pubs, work sites and sporting arenas. With reference to ethnographic studies of tribal identities during colonization, my photographic works document the characters explored throughout these performative discussions.
Biography
Eric Bridgeman is a Brisbane-based multi-media artist, specializing in photography, video, installation and performance, with heritage from both Queensland (Australia) and the Chimbu Province in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea. Graduating from the Queensland College of Art in 2008, Bridgeman has worked on a number of public projects, group exhibitions and exhibited his works nationally including shows at the Queensland Centre for Photography, The Institute of Modern Art (IMA) and has been selected for Melbourne emerging artist biennale Next Wave.
Artist Statement
‘Labour Queen’ explores the fictional character Boi Boi the Labourer from the body of work ‘The Sport and Fair Play of Aussie Rules’ (Eric Bridgeman 2008/09). In a quest for joy, integration and social identification, Boi Boi aims to dismantle the fundamental mechanics of gender and race; and decipher the role of the labourer and its public display.
‘The Sport and Fair Play of Aussie Rules’ (2008/09) is an interdisciplinary project that seeks to derange race and gender stereotypes underpinning national identities of contemporary Australia and Papua New Guinea, through a process involving painting, installation, performance, video and photography.
Bringing together stereotypical symbols, designs and roles in a cross-cultural analysis of my own dual heritage from Australia and the Chimbu Province of Papua New Guinea, these works consider the contemporary status of race, gender and cultural identity. Using typical cultural symbols from both nations, I construct environments and scenarios in which fictional characters interact and explore absurd tasks and activities inspired by two separate ways of everyday life. Performed in both public and private spaces, these carnivalesque acts are based on the paradoxical and improvised performances of its participants in environments that stimulate constructed rules of behaviour, such as pubs, work sites and sporting arenas. With reference to ethnographic studies of tribal identities during colonization, my photographic works document the characters explored throughout these performative discussions.
Biography
Eric Bridgeman is a Brisbane-based multi-media artist, specializing in photography, video, installation and performance, with heritage from both Queensland (Australia) and the Chimbu Province in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea. Graduating from the Queensland College of Art in 2008, Bridgeman has worked on a number of public projects, group exhibitions and exhibited his works nationally including shows at the Queensland Centre for Photography, The Institute of Modern Art (IMA) and has been selected for Melbourne emerging artist biennale Next Wave.
 Eric Bridgeman 2009.jpg "Labour Queen (video Still2) Eric Bridgeman 2009.jpg -")