Better Work Stories (He Patu! Ano) (2007)
Cast aluminium, automotive enamel.
This work premiered as a finalist in the Trust Waikato National Contemporary Art Award judged by Leonhard Emmerling.
An edition of the work was concurrently posted for sale on Trade Me as another conceptual dimension to the public project. Through the question and answer function of the site members of the public were able to post comments and questions to discuss the work with the artist and each other.
The item was sold to a private collector who as a young punk had been beaten by police with the long baton, as it was often referred to during the 1981 Springbok Tour when first introduced to the New Zealand public. The work also drew inspiration from recent historic police rape cases involving the long baton. The proceeds from the online sale were donated to Women's Refuge. The edition exhibited at the award is now owned by the Trust Waikato Art Collection.
A revised publication is forthcoming in 2010, documenting the original work, the online discussion and media reportage.
