25 NOVEMBER – 20 DECEMBER, 2014

The Great Divide’, C-type print, 60 x 90 cm, edition of 10, 2014

The Great Divide is a new 3 channel video by Brendan Lee looking at the competitive nature of Australian cultural iconography

The new video work titled The Great Divide, depicts two teams of blow-ins roughing it out in an AFL ball-up and NRL scrum mash-up whilst the off-field antics of the blokes are choreographed to the classic, pub-rock beat of alternative national anthems as heard through the engines of their Ford and Holden vehicles. Renowned sports commentator and rabble-rouser Phil Cleary narrates the on-field action through the naming of moves such as ‘The Leap’ from The Man From Snowy River, ‘The Chopper’ and ‘The Wake in Fright’ derived from key scenes taken from cult Australian films.

The Great Divide is Lee’s most ambitious work to date and examines the inherent rivalry within the Australian character and how intergenerational allegiances test the boundaries of larrikinism.

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.