Perth Voice Interactive

WHERE do ideas come from?

The question is often put to creative folk like artists, musicians and novelists.

Some believe ideas are floating about in the ether and you just have to reach out and grab them, while others describe them as a tangible feeling, like the first pang of a novel or the fiery beginnings of a punk rock song.

My own take – it’s somewhere in-between science and superstition – you take all the events that happened in your life, your genetics, what you had for breakfast, how you’re feeling in the moment, and chuck them in a blender in your sub-conscious.

What bubbles to the surface is an idea. 

This question of where do ideas come from is explored in Kate Mitchell’s excellent exhibition Idea Induction at the Fremantle Arts Centre.

It’s a fun, interactive affair with bright art, video and sound.

The centrepiece is a chair that engulfs the sitter in a relaxing wave of sounds. You just have to strum it.

There’s also a room with huge video screens and music, and a wall with giant fabric words, displayed in cartoon-like fonts.

The colourful words are all positive and they include Care, Devotion, Love, Grit and Magic.

It reminded me of the first time John Lennon meet Yoko Ono at one of her avant-garde art exhibitions in London. 

He climbed up a set of ladders with a magnifying glass to view a tiny piece of paper on the roof. It had “YES” on it.

He later remarked, if it had said something negative, he would have left.

One of the most fun and interactive parts of the exhibition, especially for children, is the little room where you have to write your own ideas and pin them on the wall. 

It was fascinating reading all the different takes and viewpoints, with everything from global peace to Billie Eilish covered.

In a time of global conflict and economic uncertainty, the exhibition is a much needed fillip and you leave feeling a bit brighter about everything.

Another great exhibition showing at FAC is The Beach.

Dianne Jones takes classic Aussie photos from history – mostly beach scenes full of white people – and inserts herself into them using analogue techniques.

It’s a great subversion of iconic images from the past – like some time-travelling cosmic jester poking fun at white national imaginary.

The black-and-white photographs were first created 20 years ago for the series Australian Photography, but Jones has created a new photo at Manjaree (Bathers Beach) in Fremantle for the FAC update.

The exhibition is clever, thought-provoking, and visually impressive when the photos are on this scale.

Rounding off a great trifecta of exhibitions at FAC is Stolen Wages – a collection of paintings, drawings, carvings and animations by Mervyn Street.

A colourful and vibrant slice of rural life, his work is ablaze with colour, energy and love.

Street is originally from Gooniyandi, one of the two river groups from the country around Fitzroy Crossing, and was born at Louisa Downs Station.

An accomplished author, illustrator, carver and painter, he wrote the book Know Your Granny about his country and his language.

Street has used his artwork extensively in the Yiyili School where he teaches his traditional language.

Stolen Wages features newly commissioned paintings that continue Mervyn’s legacy of telling truth.

Showing as part of the Perth Festival, the three exhibitions are at the Fremantle Arts Centre on Finnerty St, seven days a week, until April 20.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK