Artist-activist documents change in Redfern

UnderUndertaken with Keg De Souza, taken a regular project partner for Zanny, 2016: Archive Project is socio-political artwork at its most relevant.

Troubled by the gradual evaporation of artists and artist spaces from Redfern and the "gentrification" of the area pioneered by the Redfern Waterloo Authority. the Marrickville-based Begg decided to document the transformation. "I have always lived in Redfern. It's my favourite suburb in Sydney," Zanny said. "When the colourful pamphlets started rolling into the letterbox I began to wonder about the future of the place, and the lost voices."

Both Begg and De Souza have began building an archive of Redfern's gentrification that includes interviews with long term residents and their offspring, impressionist sketches, cornmentarial cartoon images. and photographs. "It's a subjective archive through the artist's sense of place, not a bird's-eye view or a city town planner's view."

The Redfern project has already been exhibited in Moon Gallery (January) and ArtSpace (August) where Begg and De Souza created an exhibition that destructs in the hands of its audience. Redfern urban landscapes made of little archive books and a cut-up image of the Twin Towers were offered to exhibit goers - a symbol of the transformation taking place in Redfern.

"In a way [the audience] gets to take away little pieces of Redfern but at the same time they are contributing to its destruction," Zanny explained.

The project will continue up until the year 2016. "We hope to contribute to the documentation and understanding of the process of change and allow voices of people who are being affected by this change to be heard."

Keep an eye out in 2008 for Zanny and Keg's There Goes the Neighbourhood project which will feature 2016: Archive Project alongside international artists.

To find out more go to www.ifyouseesomethingsaysomething.net

Photo: Redfern landscape made Of archive books Photo: Zanny Begg

Source: South Sydney Herald November 2007 www.southsydneyherald.com.au