Daniel du Bern
Adhocism
Daniel du Bern has a strong interest in counter-cultures and the way they are visually represented. A marker of such movements—be they political or ‘recreational’ by nature—is their self-determination and a D.I.Y. development of aesthetics in tune with their attitude or aspiration (seen clearly within punk, anarchist and pacifist movements, anti-globalisation networks etc.).
du Bern has developed ten posters each featuring a different object reproduced in murky greyscale. Some of the objects are puzzling: a lump wrapped in pantyhose, a small rectangular metal object and a length of wire with toggles at each end. Others declare their function much more directly—a club bound with barbed-wire, a stick embedded with nails. These objects are based on homemade weapons confiscated by the police. Their brutality is underscored by their ad hoc making, mostly from materials widely available to anyone who has the inclination; these are basic, quick constructions.
Amnesty (2006-07) develops this interest by making visible the trappings of a very different sub-culture. These types of weapons are most often confiscated from criminal outfits: gangs, drug manufacturers and dealers. The strength of a violent undercurrent in our society is only becoming stronger—the urge to be armed against attack sits fiercely at odds with the image of Aotearoa New Zealand being a peaceful, tranquil, caring place. The low-fi utilitarian aesthetic of the posters and the rough plywood billboards housed within the Gallery echoes the ad hoc quality of the objects. This coarseness reinforces the brutality of the images.
This work is not easy or comfortable. The objects are presented in a matter-of-fact way but without qualification as to where they come from, to whom they belong, or whether they are real or fake. The title references the giving up of arms. Through making these objects visible, the artwork does not seek to condone the creation or use of these weapons, but prompts us to see them and to consider their place in our society. While these types of objects are largely made and used covertly, representations of similar 'makeshift' objects frequently appear in popular (violent) video games, such as ‘The Godfather’, ‘Grand Theft Auto’ and ‘Manhunt’—the latter was banned in a number of countries including New Zealand—and films—for example the ‘SAW’ trilogy—or on a staggering number of internet sites.
Heather Galbraith
Daniel du Bern artist bio:
Born Sydney, 1980
Lives and works in Wellington
Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours), Massey University, Wellington
Selected solo exhibitions include: 'Protection', Michael Hirschfeld Gallery, Wellington (2006); 'Dirt Work', The Physics Room, Christchurch (2006); 'Against Nature' (with Nicholas du Bern), Enjoy at Containers Village, Next Wave Festival, Melbourne (2006); 'An Eye for An Eye', Enjoy Public Art Gallery, Wellington (2003).
Selected group exhibitions include: 'Single Currency', Victoria College of Arts Gallery, Melbourne (2006); 'Satellites', Vanguard Gallery, Shanghai (2006); 'National Contemporary Art Awards'. Waikato Museum of Art and History, Hamilton (2005); 'The Bed You Lie In', Artspace, Auckland (2004).
Image credits:
Daniel du Bern
Amnesty 2006-07
street posters
Courtesy of the artist