Synonymous with nomadic cultures in the northern hemisphere, the camel – like the blackberry – is an invasive species in Australia, introduced for the transport of goods between desert outposts. Beyond these references, the artists also nod to Dekotora (Japanese decorated trucks); Yokohama-e woodblock prints, depicting Western traders in 19th-century Yokohama; and Razorback, the 1980s Australian desert-horror film.
Inspired by a previous collaboration with Martu artists from the Pilbara region of Western Australia involving weaving and reclaimed car parts, Healy’s and Cordeiro’s darkly humorous work upends romantic notions of Australia’s sunburnt landscapes. Bringing the tangled connections between colonisation, consumption, leisure and environmental damage into our field of vision, its flashing red lights offer both".
- Claire Healy and Sean Cordeiro, June 2024
