Claire Fontaine

Foreigners Everywhere (If you were to live here...)

Artwork Detail

In this ongoing series the statement ‘foreigners everywhere’ is translated onto a public site in sign writers’ neon. For Auckland Claire Fontaine used a selection of languages to continue their address of the undercurrents of racism in society. The title itself is derived from Stranieri Ovunque, the Turin anarchist collective that fights racism, but implicit in its use as a public sign are two meanings – an appeal to xenophobia, and a reminder of the estrangement of being foreign everywhere in a global society. Installed in the centre of the Mackelvie Gallery, in which Victorian European paintings are exhibited, they created a powerful statement against the ‘good morals’ of the conservatism of society and claims for cultural openness while questioning established museological order. Claire Fontaine is a pseudonym for two artists, which was taken from a brand of stationery. Embedded in much of Claire Fontaine’s work is the understanding that meanings can be confused, or changed, by relocation.

Title
Foreigners Everywhere (If you were to live here...)
Artist/creator
Claire Fontaine
Production date
2013
Medium
six suspended neons, framework, transformer, cables
Credit line
The Auckland Triennial Collection, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, purchased with funds from the Elise Mourant Bequest, 2014
Accession no
2014/18.1-6
Other ID
X2013/20/1-6 Old Accession Number
Copyright
Copying restrictions apply
Department
International Art
Display status
On display

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