Tuesday, 1 April 2014

Review - h.g.

Arts Centre Melbourne

h. g.
Performed by Trickster – p

August 8 – 11 2013

The folk tale Hansel and Gretel as recorded by the brothers Grimm is a profound tale of separation.  This is affirmed by co-creators Cristina Galbiati and Ilija Luginbul in a less-is-more, strikingly condensed and rarefied, yet poignant installation that seems to intersect the fairytale more than travel along its path. 

This work is a reflective, and not in any way a narrative for children.  It is billed as a work for those older than nine.  I would venture to say that it is really a work for adults.   It does what good art can do, in leaving space between the work and the viewer for examining ones own response - to achieve a personalized interpretation.

One is greeted at the entrance helped to put on headphones and sent of with a ‘state of the art’ recording that assists and embellishes a journey through a number of starkly furnished very small dark rooms.  There is a pervading scent of ylang ylang and a number of simple visual motifs such as stones and bones.  Children’s voices ring through ones ears and there is a gingerbread house, as well as, some lovely gingerbread cookies for partaking, in the foyer, before or after ones journey.

I suggest that this type of work requires a pensive open attitude.  And if approached as such h. g. can be challenging, extremely rewarding and a little bit magic.

Suzanne Sandow

(For Stage Whispers – but unpublished)

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