David Jones, artist and poet (1895-1974) begins his PREFACE TO THE ANATHEMATA :

'I have made a heap of all that I could find.' (1) So wrote Nennius, or whoever composed the introductory matter to Historia Brittonum. He speaks of an 'inward wound' which was caused by the fear that certain things dear to him 'should be like smoke dissipated'. Further, he says, 'not trusting my own learning, which is none at all, but partly from writings and monuments of the ancient inhabitants of Britain, partly from the annals of the Romans and the chronicles of the sacred fathers, Isidore, Hieronymous, Prosper, Eusebius and from the histories of the Scots and Saxons although our enemies . . . I have lispingly put together this . . . about past transactions, that [this material] might not be trodden under foot'. (2)

(1) The actual words are coacervavi omne quod inveni, and occur in Prologue 2 to the Historia.
(2) Quoted from the translation of Prologue 1. See The Works of Gildas and Nennius, J.A.Giles, London 1841.


10 September 2011

Temporary Exhibition Visas : Unofficial Processing Process

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In Australia, the Government and Opposition continue to argue the merits and possibilities of establishing an Australia(n) Offshore Facility.
Julia Gillard enlists Tony Abbott on offshore processing of asylum-seekers
by Matthew Franklin / The Australian
Meanwhile, in Venice the queues continue to grow at the proposed Visa Processing Facility, the previous Australia(n) Pavilion in the giardini of the Venice Biennale. New Arrivals desperate to gain a Temporary Exhibition Visa to the still-hypothetical Offshore Australia(n) Pavilion have been pressuring Australian Officials for some form of status documentation .

Although it has no legal validity, to mollify the visa seekers Officials have begun rubber-stamping the various proffered identity documents.

Venice portrait studios are said to be exceptionally busy.
What backdrop would you prefer, Signora?
Something 'offshore'?
Something to show off your umbrella?
Certainly...

2011.09_Australia(n) Pavilion Venice Offshore_Visa Applicant with umbrella_&&<span class=
detail
A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/
someone looks at something ...

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