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Local artist’s exhibition highlights plight of refugees

After joining the Easter protest rally at the Woomera Detention Centre in 2002, local artist John Abery decided to produce work on this and subjects related to the plight of refugees.

By Latrobe City Council - 27th July 2005 - Back to News

His exhibition entitled ‘There is a better way’ showcases these works and is currently on show at International Power Hazelwood Community Access Gallery, Latrobe Regional Gallery.

Gallery Director, Louise Tegart said that Abery’s works were about the innocent victims of political upheaval and violence in the world we live in today.

"Works included in the exhibition refer to people who are driven from their homes and even countries to become refugees, or thrown into jails for opposing the political tyrants of the time," Ms Tegart said.

"Empty 308 cartridges protruding from the wall appear in a piece titled ‘We are a peaceful nation’. In this work Abery comments on the way the superpowers try to solve these problems by imposing their military might, which only seems to inflame the situation and create more violence and hatred," Ms Tegart explained.

"In other works, wax hands which have been bound or constricted in a box represent the nameless and faceless identities of the refugees who are incarcerated in camps," Ms Tegart added.

Ms Tegart concluded that this was an extremely powerful exhibition that highlighted the often horrifying conditions and treatment of refugees within ‘civilised’ countries.

This exhibition continues until Sunday 7 August, 2005.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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