I am the bloody monitor, oil on linen, 2009
The Cerberus is a revolutionary design 1860’s ironclad monitor, currently a breakwater off Black Rock, Melbourne, Victoria.
Pivotal Gallery in conjunction with Friends of the Cerberus is having an exhibition as part of an ongoing campaign to save this nationally and internationally important piece of Maritime history and my work (above) is part of this.
It’s called “I am the bloody monitor” – which is a quote by Ned Kelly who was referring to the Cerberus.
I looked closely at the surface of the Cerberus from the closest vantage point, and from photographs I took and sourced online. Most of what we can see these days is rusted and obviously iron. Up near the top of the funnel are some vertical slits, which looked too like Kelly’s helmet to be ignored.
I was also drawn to the fact that the state of the Cerberus is in need of monitoring, and this most visible part is a reminder of that.
So it’s almost abstract at first view – actually a literal rendering of a part of the ship and symbolic as well.
You can see the other works on offer here.
See http://www.cerberus.com.au/ for additional information about Cerberus and Membership to Friends of the Cerberus.The exhibition opens tonight. 
