In order to provide support material for the application, I will outline 5 projects which fall under the practice of Platform Productions:
- Retreat, 2018
- The Children’s Party, 2017 –
- Concept Generation, 2016-
- The Children’s Republic, 2015 –
- Money Back Lunch, 2014
Retreat, 2018
Retreat is a sigh of exasperation that blends all grievances into a hum.
Retreat is for every reason and no reason.
Retreat reaffirms how great it can be when people spend time in each other’s company.
Retreat is a blank protest.
Retreat is affective and ineffective.
Retreat is time out.
Retreat absorbs and reflects, is a call and a response.
Retreat is completely unproductive.
Retreat is something anyone can do.
For 24 hours, an assembly of strangers will help carry one unbroken hum.
A steady hum emanates from within building. Seated informally in a broken circle are people from nearby, gently humming. Anyone can join at any time. The reverberations bounce off the walls and envelop the participants. One person leaves, then two people join from outside. Someone will be here from noon to noon, humming.
Although it may seem like a spiritual event or a sit in protest, this gathering is not affiliated with one cause, even though people may project their own cause onto it. They are rising to a task – born of nothing but fatigue – to help keep a hum going for 24 hours. The many vibrations combine into one reverberation.
Media:
‘Is this peak brunswick’ reddit thread
Participant Quotes:
” As an experience though I thought, “What a wonderful thing to offer our community.” Just the simplicity of it in some ways, I just thought it makes it accessible to anyone”
“There was a sense of harmony and disharmony… and working towards finding a thing that was kind of… mutually inclusive of everyone in the space. Then sometimes things would happen that would make that fall apart a little bit and then we would work together to bring it back to a harmonious place. It was quite beautiful.”
“Where do people come up with these ideas. Why. Why do they come up with these ideas. WHAT PURPOSE DOES THIS SERVE?”
“Participatory work is most powerful when it seeds an organic response, which leads to unexpected occurrences. The greater the rigour in the structure the greater the opportunity for participants to take any point of departure. A strong framework can support anything to happen within it. Its a fine line between telling people what they can and can’t do, because that gap between permission and autonomy enables them to organically generate what is right for them. This emergence is really important.”
The Children’s Party, 2017-
A legitimate political party where kids form its policies. With Alex Walker and House of Muchness
The Children’s Party hit the campaign trail during the 2017 Melbourne Fringe Festival, as Australia’s first child-led political party. Everything from policy ideas and key messages through to banners and slogans was dreamed-up and double-spoken by a team of young people aged 8 to 12. Supported by a set of advisers, speech writers and industry experts, these pint-sized politicos brought their message to the people at the inaugural Children’s Party Convention. Part participatory art project, part social provocation, part the juiciest episode of Q&A you have ever seen – The Children’s Party flipped the adult–child hierarchy on its head.
Concept Generation, 2016 –
At this party/startup/workshop, participants trade drawings of innovations for beer and peanuts.
Concept Generation has also been shown at Melbourne Design Week 2017 and at the New Museum in New York in 2018.
The Children’s Republic, 2015-
The Children’s Republic asks children to formulate their ideal nation, described with national symbols: flags, an anthem, a constitution and national dress. What rules would there be? What values are important?
In July, 2015, The Children’s Republic of Liverpool premiered at Casula Powerhouse as part of the Way out West Festival 2015. The event welcomed over 10,000 participants, and culminated in an epic parade at the end of the 4 day festival.
The Children’s Republic has toured to the Sydney Opera House, Arts Centre Melbourne and Festival 18 as part of the Commonwealth Games Cultural Program.
Money Back Lunch, 2014-
A collaboration to cook a lunch with newly bought equipment, wearing freshly purchased clothes, all of which were returned after the meal.
with Marie Clerel, Cristina David, Judit Fischer, Gábor Kristóf, Miklós Mécs, Jaro Varga and András Zalavári ; at Revolution without Movement
The group met at Cristina David’s workshop on collaboration, artist+artist. Through discussions we decided to cook a meal with ‘borrowed’ equipment and clothes. We bought large pots, a knife, a ladle and frying pans. While at the department store, we decided to buy fancy clothes to wear during the lunch. Back at the gallery we carefully unpacked all the equipment. Some of the unboxing was complicated, and we found ways to undo zip ties and keep as much intact as possible. Similarly with the clothes, all the labels were left on.
We cooked lecho and pancakes, and enjoyed some wine while being careful not to spill it on our clothes!
At the end of the lunch, we cleaned up, repackaged the equipment and clothes, and returned them to the store. All returns were successful.