Refused

This is my latest offering in a series titled - behind closed doors ...

The work is an artists' book in the genre of rescued assemblage ...

I have been moved to create a piece that reflects the plight of displaced and at-risk peoples of the world, and the hard-hearted attitude that many in our society have towards them - refusing them protection, and in so many cases, labelling them undesirable. 

We must remember that we are all - including our indigenous population - aliens in this land and we must open our hearts to the needs of others whose lives have been placed in jeopardy by cruelty and misadventure.

 Refused - behind closed doors

 Refused - behind bars

Refused - detail

Refused stands 400mm tall and is created from discarded metal and timber and hand-made paper - the lettering is in Arabic.

The Story ...

The situation in Australia has never been so bad for asylum seekers escaping danger in their homelands. Where is the protection they deserve and to which they have a legal right, when both the Government and Opposition are aligned against them?

Australians have been coerced into believing the myth that our borders must be protected at all costs from this invasion of queue jumping ‘illegals’ who have no right and do not deserve to be here. After all, it is difficult to resist such united fear mongering, so ably assisted by an often compliant media.
However, it is unthinkable and irresponsible, for decent Australians to accept these myths without trying to decipher the truth, and thereby be able to make an informed and balanced decision about issues concerning asylum seekers.

But where do we go to accomplish this? Who do we ask? Luckily for Sunshine Coast residents, a small active local group is doing something to address the imbalance.

Buddies Refugee Support Group feels passionately about ensuring the fair treatment of those escaping persecution and who come to our shores for protection. Buddies could no longer stand by without creating an opportunity for the public to hear the truth from people working closely with asylum seekers and refugees.

Thinking people of the Sunshine Coast ( Queensland - Australia ) are urged to attend a public forum to hear a distinguished panel of speakers consisting of a lawyer, refugee advocates, a journalist, and a former asylum seeker, namely Julian Burnside AO,QC, Freddie Steen, Pamela Curr, Paul Syvret and Homo Forotan.

Buddies, in association with Graduate Women Sunshine Coast, encourages residents to come for two hours on Sunday,16th October 2011 to learn the facts and participate in a dynamic discussion with a respected panel. ( check out their website for more details - http://refugeebuddies.com/ )

- media release from Buddies

 

Hippeastrum - Ken Munsie

www.kenmunsie.com