Proposal for Hand Luggage Exhibition.
The limitations of space - 145 x 80 x 70mm challenged me to discard many initial ideas.After making a cardboard model to see the volume of the space, I became interested in the idea of boxed 2D images.
I have recently been working on a collaborative project developing works based on ideas of the 60s art movement - FLUXUS.
This has been an influence on this proposal.
Fluxus works often incorporate humour and a desire to turn people's attention to the actual phenomena of the world.
John Cage and Marcel Duchamp are often cited as major influences.
In addition to the intermedia performances that Fluxus is well known for, there is a large body of flux objects and transcripts of event scores, etc contained in "Flux Boxes".

My proposal is to make a boxed set of 2D images concerned with "eyebrows.
Visually the eyebrow is an interesting feature being an active participant of many facial expressions. This is reflected in our language with expressions such as "raised eyebrows" and "high brow".
The expression "raised eyebrows" I find interesting because of the multiplicity of emotions which this simple facial movement can express.
In the context of this Hand Luggage exhibition which will travel from Australia to Europe, does not this linguistic expression reflect on the interactions which occur when diverse cultures meet, both in a positive and negative way.
Expressions such as wonder and amazement, or as an expression of discomfort when confronted with unfamiliar experiences.
"High brow" incorporates ideas of hierarchies of cultural activities and beliefs in which European traditions are often upheld.
This also relates to Australia's relationship with Europe with Australia's sense of cultural inferiority being evident throughout our history.
On a lighter note, eyebrows remind me of caterpillars, the hairy type. This brought to mind memories of a type of caterpillar which does a mass migration across the country at a certain time significant to the caterpillar.
The next idea, following on logically, is one of eyebrow migration from country to country?

For the Hand Luggage exhibition I would like to explore these ideas, beginning with a photographic exploration of different eyebrows, then developing various visual and conceptual options to come together as a small wall installation, consisting of 2D images (I think) and their container.

 I had titled the prior image "high Brow Event No 3" and I guess these little books could be thought of as following on from that. A travelling set of eyebrows ready for your high brow exploits in Europe. They can be removed and used whenever the need arises. The title is "High Brow Event back up"