About the project:
This project includes a display of two hundred and ten Greek identity cards. These cards were made, and issued, in the post war period in Greece, and had to be carried everywhere. They allowed the holder to travel no more than thirty kilometers from their place of residence.
Web Site I.D.
The inside text described the holder, and included details such as the colour of eyes, hair, and paternal lineage. A photograph and the appropriate stamps and signatures were also included to ensure the authenticity of the holder, as well as the appropriate authorities.
Made of paper, these cards were cheap and fragile, sensitive to handling, and able to retain evidence of the passing of time. Sixty years later in a place half way across the globe (Australia) these cards are found amidst the possessions of people who have lived through "interesting times". They are a connection with their place of birth, reminders of social, political and religious links and divisions, as well as records of identity and cultural status determined by birth.
In my research, questions about these cards were treated with a degree of suspicion, and copying the cards became
a sensitive issue. In the past forgeries of such material would have obviously caused major concerns for the holder and authorities.
This project is an arrangement of two hundred and ten cards, which are sorted and arranged according to colour. Monochromatic panels of thirty five cards are placed together in acrylic holders and are organised according to chroma and tone. Photographic enlargements of some of the portraits are included in the exhibition and offer the viewer a glipse of the interior, encouraging an interactive approach. These cards are meant to be held and looked through like a small book. Newspaper articles which deal with past forgeries of such material are also included as a preamble to the display. The overall size of the display may vary in size and will be determined by available space.
STUDIES:
1988 - 1989 Graduate Diploma in Fine Art R.M.I.T. ;
1983 - 1988 Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art R.M.I.T. ;
1978 - 1982 Certificate of Applied Art Preston Technical College;
INDIVIDUAL EXHIBITIONS:
2001 " I.d " Mira Fine Art Melbourne
1995 "Compositions" Scope Gallery;
1990 "Current Work" Botanical Gallery;
1989 "Assimilation" Studio Show;
1987 "Current Work" Studio Show ;
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS:
2004 Embark Disembark Melbourne Immigration Museum
2003 Embark Disembark Mass Gallery
2002 “tides” Counihan Gallery 16th May- 9 June
Mira Fine Art Group show April-May- August September
2001 “? Lost & Found “ Koorie Heritage Trust
1997 "Neophytes Retrospective" National Gallery of Victoria "Neophytes Retrospective" Doncaster City Gallery "Nillumbik Art Award" Eltham Community Centre
1995 "Small Works" Scope Gallery;
1994 "Neophytes III" "After Taste" Gallery 101 "Neophytes III" "After Taste" Tasmania
1993 "Recent Paintings" West Space;
1991 "Group Show" Inaminka Gallery; "Group Show" Sojourners Gallery;
1990 "Artworkz Two" ;
1989 "Aspects of Melbourne Contemporary Art" Footscray Community Centre; "Artworkz One" BP Acquisitive Prize;
1988 "Emergence" Roar 2 Studios; "Summer Collection" Waverley Gallery;
1987 Collective Gallery R.M.I.T.;
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY:
2001 “I.d” Exhibition essay Evangelos Sakaris
“I.d” Exhibition essay P.O
1997 Robert Nelson "The Australian Agonies of Hellas" Neophytes Retrospective Catalogue essay May. Kathie Kambouropoulos Neos Kosmos March 21. Anita Furey review" Neophytes" Art Streams No. 3 Vol. 2 June / July.
1995 Robert Nelson review "Crossing Into the Cross-Cultural" The Age Arts & Entertainment Guide March 29. Christos Niaros "The passport" Ta Nea March. Neos Kosmos "Artistic expressions to stimulate the senses" March.
COLLECTIONS: Private and corporate collections in Melbourne, Brisbane, Darwin.
1994 Evangelos Sakaris "After Taste" Neophytes III Catalogue essay. Vince Dziekan "Natural" Exhibition ACPAC.
1990 Jan Blendorf The Age Entertainment Guide "Galleries" December 7.
George Alamidis: I.D.
