WOMANIFESTO - SPIRIT OF FRIENDSHIP - GUANGZHOU /  by Helen Grace

A small part of an expanding project:: See Short Excerpt from Project so far here

Guangzhou.jpg

The first Trans-Southeast Asia Triennial research exhibition series

Project #1
Repetition as a gesture towards deep listening*

Conceived by: Biljana Ciric
Collaborators: Womanifesto and The Factory Contemporary Art Centre
Duration of project: One year
Stage One: March 8th to May 10th 2021
Exhibition preview: 8 March to 25 March 2021
Exhibition official opening: 25 March 2021
Stage Two: End of 2021 (Final date TBD)
Host: Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts
Organizers: Art Museum of Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts Research Center for New Art Museum Studies, Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts
Location: Art Museum of Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts (Univer- sity Town, Panyu District)

Womanifesto 2020 Gatherings

Joining Gatherings:
in Udonthani: Nitaya Ueareeworakul (Tuk), Jidamas Sriraksa (Nuch), Tikamporn Faioopara (Krin), Krisanah Wannakham (Nah), Khaunrudi Sameapak (Ja-eh), Meena Ueareeworakul (Meena) and Daorudee Tankittiwat (Ouy).
in Baroda: Varsha Nair, Ananya Patel, Rashmimala, Urna Sinha, Anuradha Upadhyaya, Mrudula Kunatharaju and Amruta Patel.
in Sydney: Phaptawan Suwannakudt, Shuxia Chen, Helen Grace, Toby Huynh, Sue Pedley, Kyati Suharto, Charlotte Mungomery, Virginia Hilyard and Shirley Hilyard.
in Basel: Lena Eriksson, Nicole Boillat, Chris Regn, Chris Hunter, Martina Henzi, Martina Gmür and Jim Osthaarchic.
in Berlin: Karla Sachse, Susanne Dobrovoda, Ann Noël, Gabriela Vasquez-Pacheco and Lea Mattenklotz.
in London: Nilofar Akmut, Liliana Constantin, Stefano Boring, Anca Dimofte and Reiko Aoyagi

Womanifesto’s presentation explores past and present through , but it also focuses on the current reactivization during the pandemic. The presentation within Repetition in March will present two parts of Womanifesto’s archive, composed of publications/albums and video documentaries, as well as ongoing activities initiated in 2020/21 during lockdowns by members of Womanifesto and their local communities. Gatherings are happening in six different locations: Nitaya Ueareeworakul in Udon Thani, on her farm; Phaptawan Suwannakudt in Sydney; Varsha Nair in Baroda; Lena Eriksson in Basel; Karla Sachse in Berlin; Nilofar Akmut in London. Each artist acts as a host and gathers 2 to 5 artists in their place in their studio, house or online – depending on social distancing measures. The gatherings during the pandemic pertain to the importance of proximity and physical presence, and they continue to expand the importance of relationality during times of separa- tion. As each group is in a different stage of lockdown and gathering, their existence will be acknowledged through the exhibition, and some places will present works and stories created during these gatherings.

While the outcome of the current gathering will be presented in March, the full version will be presented within the final triennial exhibition at the end of 2021.

JOURNAL OF THE PLAGUE YEAR, THURSDAY, MAY 31ST, 1900 /  by Helen Grace

2020: DAY 68

SMH p7

178 Elizabeth St, Sydney, 1900 - Source: State Library of NSW

178 Elizabeth St, Sydney, 1900 - Source: State Library of NSW

(p 3) – ABATTOIRS / TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD - “… an open sore, so filthy and repulsive as to need the strong hand of Government to interpose and snatch from the nerveless grip of incompetence and lazy ignorance the reins of government which they have shown themselves so ill-fitted to handle. Darling Harbour had become a sickening cesspool of disease. The shores of the harbour were nuclei of unmentionable filth and all abominableness and a menace to public health; and yet in the face of this ghastly and costly experience it is calmly proposed to shift the abattoirs to a site on the Parramatta River whence the offal and filth naturally inseparable from abattoir arrangements, no matter how well conducted, must of necessity percolate into the river and reproduce the old filthy conditions…. I am a busy man and have little time for newspaper correspondence, but … JAS. INGLIS

(p5) – PUBLIC SCHOOLS' PATRIOTIC DISPLAY. / GREAT FETE AT THE CRICKET GROUND. / AN ENORMOUS GATHERING. / DEMONSTRATION OF LOYALTY AND PATRIOTISM.

(p7) – FRANCE / THE DREYFUS CASE

FEDERATION / THE NEW CLAUSE IN THE COMMONWEALTH BILL / OPINION OF SIR S. GRIFFITH

BOXERS" MARCH ON PEKIN PLUNDERING AND MURDERING. / BELGIAN ENGINEERS BESIEGED. LONDON, May 29. " The Boxers," a seditious society, are murdering and plundering within 29 miles of Pekin. Japan has landed a force of blue-jackets at Tientsin, the port of Pekin. May 30. The " Boxers " are near Pekin. They have destroyed the railway workshops at Fengtai, eight miles from Pekin. The Belgian engineers, who controlled the shops, are surrounded, and are besieged on a hill. A party of Frenchmen and of Germans have armed themselves and have gone to the rescue of the Belgians. The Powers have announced that they will return their guards, which some months ago were withdrawn at the request of the Empress Dowager, to their respective legations at Pekin.

LATE EDITION /HERALD OFFICE, 6 a.m. / THE WAR / ANNEXATION OF THE FREE STATE / LONDON, May 30 – Orange Free State annexed on behalf of Great Britain

(p8) – THE BUBONIC PLAGUE./ ANOTHER CLEAR DAY. The register of fresh cases of bubonic plague yesterday was clean, showing that none were discovered … All the work in the quarantined areas was completed vesterday, and as no further areas have been declared the men engaged on them, to the number of 1050 were temporarily dismissed. It is, however, understood that they will be again engaged. On the wharfs all the staff has been retained, and work there is progressing… The number of rats delivered direct at the incinerator yesterday by the ratcatcher was 546. 

 THE SOLAR ECLIPSE. / AN INTERVIEW WITH THE GOVERNMENT ASTRONOMER

JOURNAL OF THE PLAGUE YEAR, WEDNESDAY, MAY 30TH, 1900 /  by Helen Grace

2020: DAY 67

SMH, p6

Shed, Rear, 109 Goulburn St, Sydney, 1900 - Source: State Library of NSW

Shed, Rear, 109 Goulburn St, Sydney, 1900 - Source: State Library of NSW

(p 4) – THE COMMONWEALTH BILL. / A “PUNCH” CARTOON. / DINNER DEBATES. THE DELEGATES STAND FAST. / AN APPARENT DEADLOCK. (FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT) LONDON, April 27. “ On the other hand, as I am bound to say, it is felt here that the delegates – three of them, at least – sometimes display an emphasis, not to say dogmatism, in the expression of their views not altogether consistent with the quasi-character of diplomacy which is inherent in their mission …” 

(p6) – Advertisement for “WEALTH OF NATIONS” TOBACCO / A GIFT FROM THE UNITED STATES TO AUSTRALIA

Editorials on war
” …"If the British lack the feverish gaiety of the French and the lofty solemnity of the Japanese, they have in their own favourite methods certain well-recognised elements that strike home to the hearts of the people. Those who complain of the sad way in which the British take their pleasures must have been considerably surprised at the recent outbursts of popular feeling."... There's no place like England - when you've done your work." Kipling: The Brushwood Boy
- Column by Kipling as well


(p8) – BUBONIC PLAGUE
 / YESTERDAY’S CASES - 2 more cases

JOURNAL OF THE PLAGUE YEAR, TUESDAY, MAY 29TH, 1900 /  by Helen Grace

2020: DAY 66

SMH, p5

180 Elizabeth St, Sydney, 1900 - Source: State Library of NSW

180 Elizabeth St, Sydney, 1900 - Source: State Library of NSW

(p4) – Editorial on new bill to amend Water Board's rating powers (a factor in whether it could get revenue)
 Question of licensing of plumbers – 
*Royal Commission on Board in 1897


(p5 ) – LATE EDITION. HERALD OFFICE, 7.30 a.m. THE WAR. / THE BOERS TO MAKE A LAST STAND. / LONDON, May 28.

THE DECEASED WIFE'S SISTERS BILL, LONDON, May 28. (bill introduced to allow a man to marry his dead wife’s sister, something previously considered illicit)

THE WAR / INVASION OF THE TRANSVAAL. / BRITISH ARMY IN THE REPUBLIC. / ENVELOPING MOVEMENT IRRESISTIBLE. / LORD ROBERTS'S BRILLIANT STRATEGY. / ENEMY OUTMANOEUVRED. / COMMANDANTS DISCUSS SURRENDER. / PEACE DELEGATES DIS-HEARTENED. / CAMPAIGN ON THE NATAL BORDER. / BOERS' EXTENDED FRONT. LONDON, May 28.

(p6) – BUBONIC PLAGUE / 
POSSIBILITIES OF RECRUDESCENCE
- carcasses found in harbour - 640 rats, 168 dogs, 93 cats, 87 fowls, 9 pigs, 1 monkey


DARLING HARBOUR RESUMPTIONS

REDUCTION OF INSPECTORS AT PADDINGTON - to save £10/18/- per week

JOURNAL OF THE PLAGUE YEAR, MONDAY, MAY 28TH, 1900 /  by Helen Grace

2020: DAY 65

SMH

Rear, 50 Wexford St, Sydney, 1900 - Source: State Library of NSW

Rear, 50 Wexford St, Sydney, 1900 - Source: State Library of NSW

(p3) – BUBONIC PLAGUE
 / GRATIFYING DIMINUTION OF CASES

 - At 19th May, 100 patients convalescing; by 26th May, there had been 7 new patients, 19 discharged, 6 died. Total: 82npatients. 1st week since March 10 when numbers didn't reach double figures. 
The highest no of deaths in one week (12) occurred in week ending April 14th. Highest no of cases in one week: 38
. Total cases to date: 247 
Deaths: 89
 Recovered: 76
Death rate: 36%
; Town Hall: 62 inoculated on Sat.


SANITARY IMPROVEMENTS AT REDFERN

PERSISTENCY OF A NIHILIST PAPER
- story of pursuit of Polish Nihilists in Warsaw; expert Nihilist-hunters from St Petersburg sent down to find them. One press found but paper reappeared within hours, naming those arrested, and the informer, who was later found stabbed to death in a street.

- Editorial commenting on export of British coal and fear that it would diminish superiority of Britain -> why not use NSW coal as a substitute?


(p4) – THE WEATHER / A BRIEF INTERVAL OF SUNSHINE / THE STORM OF LAST WEEK / REPORTS FROM THE FLOODED RIVERS

(p5) – A WOMAN’S LETTER FROM LONDON / THE SPRING / A SAD EASTER / MAFEKING AND THE NURSERY / FASHIONS / HAND-MADE TRIMMINGS / THE ROYAL FAMILY / THE JEW AS SOLDIER (extolling the virtues and patriotism of a Jewish officer, killed in South Africa – notwithstanding ‘our preconceived notions of the Hebrew people’) 

THE WAR
 / MAFEKING DAY - pages and pages
 of reports

(p 7) – CHINESE SEDITIOUS SOCIETY – The Great Powers have represented to the Tsung-li-Yamen the necessity of suppressing the “Boxers”, a Chinese seditious society, which has committed a number of outrages.

THE MARCHING OF THE TROUPS / SPLENDID PERFORMANCES / LONDON

AT THE FRONT. / NEW SOUTH WALES TROOPS. / WORK REQUIRING VIGILANCE. / OUTPOST DUTY. / AUSTRALIAN TROOPS EXCEL. / COMPLIMENTED BY LORD ROBERTS. / REVEILLE AT FOUR O'CLOCK. / OUT IN THE OPEN. / SATURATED WITH RAIN. / VISIT OF GENERAL HUTTON. / WARM COMMENDATIONS. /(FROM A CORRESPONDENT) BLOEMFONTEIN, April 26.

JOURNAL OF THE PLAGUE YEAR, SUNDAY MAY 27TH, 1900 /  by Helen Grace

2020: DAY 64

FINAL WEEKLY REPORT OF BUREAUCRATIC ENDEAVOURS
MAY 20TH - MAY 26TH

6-10 Exeeter Place, Sydney, 1900 - Source: State Library of NSW

6-10 Exeeter Place, Sydney, 1900 - Source: State Library of NSW

Register of Letters to the Colonial Secretary:
– May 22nd, From Secretary, Board of Health to coast Hospital; from Chief Medical Officer to Coast Hospital.
– May 25th, From Chief Medical Officer – refund of £1/6/- paid for taking walks (?) as a JP; from Public Service Board to Coast Hospital.

Extracts from the Minutes of the Board of Health
– May 22: Leave of absence for workers engaged on building at Quarantine Station given. To be allowed to leave on Saturday afternoon and return Monday morning;
– Citizens' Vigilance Committee requests Board of Health  to authorize its officers to enter premises to inspect. Board of Health replies that it can only authorize persons who are under direct control of Board and directs them to approach Local Authorities.

NSW Govt. Gazette, 1900, Vol 2, Govt. Printer, 1900
Further extensions of scheduled areas – and release and rescission of earlier scheduled areas.

Register of Deaths
Between May 20th & May 26th, there are 6 deaths from Bubonic Plague – 4 men (William Docksey, 27, James Munn, 31, Andrew O’Young, 26 and Edward Edney, 47), 1 youth (William Cooper, 17) and a 4 year old boy (Lawrence George C. Plant) – a 40% reduction on the numbers for the previous three weeks.