Bonita Ely - SLIP SLAP

Performance for Sydney Biennale’s Art After Dark program, 1/6/22

SET UP

The Menindee Fish Kill photograph was on a flat screen behind my performance setup. Lisa Roberts put it through a video program so that it undulates as if live.

Bath with warm water & bubble bath. A stool with 2 hazmat overalls; towel; dressing gown; bowl of shells on a doily; bath mat; chair with cushion.

With my phone in hand playing Bobby Daren’s song, Splish Splash, as I dance through the audience to the bath, wearing the Menindee Fish Kill paisley patterned dress.

I stepped into the bath & shrunk back in horror as it was filled with disgusting plastic trash from the Cooks River.

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I picked up the yucky objects, played around with some and threw them on the floor. Some landed in the audience, I carefully cleaned some bits & put them aside for recycling - children's toys, a bowl.

When I'd removed most of the objects. I expressed relief (body language) but decided to put on a hazmat overall before getting back into the bath, explaining the water was now polluted with micro plastics.