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| Cotton thread, wire, shells and beads. Dimensions variable. |
In this instance, instead
of searching for the great inland sea, the protagonist sets out in
search of the much sought after contemporary icon ‒
a car park directly in front of a person's destination.
The installation came
about from Cotching's frustration with the car culture that
dominates regional cities, and the feelings of disconnection and
isolation that occur when moving from car door to front door,
with hardly a step between.
Laceman's journey follows
a walk local artists and art lovers do on the first Saturday of every
month as part of the whitecubemildura project. The journey travels
through a traffic free, yet much criticised mall area, and seeks to
highlight the positive impact taking a short walk can have.
On the 5th of
April 2014 at 10:07am, Sir Charlie Laceman, explorer, soldier and
public servant, set off, from a comfortable café
in north Mildura, on one of the most challenging expeditions in
recent history – the search
for Mildura's great rock star car park!
Such a car park had been
sighted, and indeed visited many times, by adventurers who had
circled the town in motorised vehicles. However, this was the first
time such an expedition had been attempted on foot, and a precise
route had never been charted.
The journey was initially
unpredictable, in parts equally dangerous and delightful, as Laceman
ventured south west, passing offices and other spaces where
strange ideas were developed and acted upon –
some hospitable, others less so.
As reserves were running
low, his route took a north westerly turn, into a plentiful
landscape – light meals,
treats and caffeinated beverages in abundance. At 10:11am Laceman
sighted a junction. He headed south west, and in less than a
minute found himself in a broad and noble clearing.
"It
was impossible to describe the effect of so instantaneous a change in
circumstance becoming me. Suddenly I was permitted to drift along at
leisure. Crossing this vast space from one trinket shop to another,
without the indignity of looking left, right and left once more, lest
I be struck down... I had escaped the roads... and I dared to wonder
if I might actually succeed in my endeavour...”
Just as quickly as this
vast space appeared, it ended, and Laceman was back on the narrow and
confined space of the footpath, weaving his way between display
stands, chairs and tables. Laceman sighted a shop of treasures,
entered, and believed some of the items to be quite beautiful, vowing
to return the week before Mother's day.
It was just after this
point that Laceman had his most hostile encounter –
with an adventurer in a motor vehicle, also in search of Mildura's
rock star car park. The adventurer hooted at Laceman, as he
crossed the road just a few metres south of a pedestrian crossing.
Laceman held out a leafy branch of peace. In response, the motor
vehicle adventurer threw a tin kettle, as a reciprocal peace
offering.
Another north west
turn saw Laceman passing places wonderful, variable and modest. He
rested a while at a supply store, gazing upon an interesting object
in a clear box.
By 10:22am Laceman was
weary and had come to realise his mission was doomed –
the great rock star car park was a myth.
He struggled on
regardless, reaching an office where people do interesting things
with numbers. Coincidently on this day, the foyer was full of
people who had been on a journey similar to his own. Laceman
discussed his adventures with these travellers, explaining his
innovative method of charting –
using thread to indicate half metres, and beads and shells to record
each store, tree and resting place. Through reviewing his own
document, Laceman became enlightened. The mythical rock star car
park he had sought, now promised nothing but an empty, lifeless space
– worthless in comparison to
the rich and interesting journey he had undertaken in its pursuit,
all in less than fifteen minutes.
