PETERHENNESSEY

MY HELLSGATE

(NORTH OFTHE RIVER)

5 FEBRUARY – 27 FEBRUARY 2010

My Hells Gate is a project that deals with the strangely hidden place occupied by explosives in contemporary life, both literally and metaphorically. The work takes as its starting point the massive explosive demolition in 1885 of a reef of underwater rocks located at Hell’s Gate in the East River of New York City, then re-scales and re-stages it under a tonne of water in the front gallery of Gertrude Contemporary.

This essentially peaceful explosion underscores the fact that explosives are more frequently used in mining and civil engineering than in war, reminding us that we live in a world pushed along by countless detonations. These detonations are not belligerent, but are violent nonetheless, highlighting the surprising poignancy of seeing a little part of someone’s world crumble so gracefully.

PETER HENNESSEY MY HELLS GATE (NORTH OF THE RIVER)

Gertrude Contemporary 5 – 27 February 2010

200 Gertrude Street Fitzroy VIC 3065 Australia Telephone +61 3 9419 3406 Facsimile +61 3 9419 2519 info@gertrude.org.au www.gertrude.org.au

© artists, author and Gertrude Contemporary

Gertrude Contemporary is supported by the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy, an initiative of the Australian, State and Territory Governments, and is assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.

The artist would like to thank to Fiona Abicare and Scott Ebdon (casting), Anthony Geernaert (photography), Rusty Johnson (pyrotechnics), Maryanne Nairn (production), Dennis Daniel, Alexie Glass-Kantor, Emily Cormack, Patricia Piccinini, Hector and Roxy.

Image Captions: Peter Hennessey My Hells Gate (North of the river), 2010 Synthetic plaster, steel, polycarbonate, explosives, televisions, C-type photographs, Dimensions variable Installation shots Gertrude Contemporary 5 February – 27 February 2010 Image courtesy of the artist and Tolarno Galleries, Melbourne

PETER HENNESSEY MY HELLS GATE (NORTH OF THE RIVER)