This is my first visit to Bus Projects since they have moved from their Lt Lonsdale location. They are now situated in the basement of Donkey Wheel House. It is a peculiar entrance found behind the elevator. As you enter, you descend the old staircase that leads you to a staffed table. The dark entrance and sound of distant talking is a little disconcerting at first but in the same sense allures to a little mystery.
Immediately to my left is a looped image of a young girl of three years old or so putting on make up. She is facing the viewer as though we are the mirror. She doesn’t look like she is having fun. She looks straight through you. It’s an eerie image as it is a black background so her gaze is even more intense.
I initially missed the other video work hidden to the left in a dark hallway. I felt claustrophobic and didn’t appreciate it. As you exit this space you continue further down the hallway and enter a dark gallery space. To the left is a projection of a curtain slowly and softly blowing. This is projected onto a closed blacked out window. I get the sense of the unknown behind the curtain that never reveals its source. You maintain your gaze waiting for the curtain to blow open.
In the same gallery appears a projection of a young girl who looks to be eight years old lying on her side in her nightdress. The image is projected onto existing tiles of the gallery. The tiles are used white porcelain on a slight angle. Her hair is blowing slightly as though she is sleeping under a window. The tiles exuberate the cold feeling l get from the image. The girl is unaware and seems to be sleeping peacefully. She has no blankets and has bare feet. That cold feeling could also be that your in a basement. The far gallery has a light projection randomly displaying blocks of light. I’m unsure the consequence of this.
This show seems quite site specific and works tremendously well. I’m not a big fan of video work and l have become quite indifferent to it over the years. This artist however, successfully accomplished a show of video work that all relates and the location is ideal and has encouraged the exhibition.
For all those complacent video work viewers, this is a must see.
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