“Yo, we at war
We at war with terrorism, racism
And most of all, we at war with ourselves”
– Kanye West: Jesus Walks
I was really moved by Alex Seton’s work in the Adelaide Biennial Someone died trying to live a life like mine. Twenty eight life jackets washed up on the Cocos Islands, leaving us only to wonder about the ill fated journey those who adorned them took across rough seas in search of a better life. A mother and child, three brothers among those others lost at sea.
A Paddle – Alex Seton
This theme is explored further in his current show at Sullivan and Strumph. Entitled Refoulment, Seton’s work once again speaks to our compassion, our empathy, and seeks to remind us that our humanity is the foundation of a stable, functional democracy. Without this we would all be adrift at sea, searching for a safe place to call home .
Through the looking glass 