Time, Torture … and Tomorrow, and: Artist's Statement

Artist's Statement

Dear Time,Time,if you are a healer,would you please accelerate time?Time,Take us to the other shore.Then,would you take your time?Take your time to penetrate.Penetrate deep inside.Take your time to treat all the misery.Take your time to treat all the wounds.Time,would you please slow down?Then,let us catch up.Let us catch up with a stolen life.Life.Enjoy it.Life.Live it.Lord,time is yours.

Artist's Statement

My name is Hass Hassaballa. I am a Sudanese man from Darfur. I have been detained in Australia's offshore detention centre on Manus Island (PNG) for nearly five years.

The days when the leaders of the world came together to form humanitarian agencies dedicated to observing and protecting human rights were extrodinary days. But, sadly, today's leaders are leading us into an abyss. It is frustrating to see a county like Australia, which is perceived to be a great nation, now becoming a country that tortures people. And Australia, as a member of the United Nations, is part of a global community that claims to protect the vulnerable. In recent years Australia has established a ruthless refugee detention regime. Innocent people fleeing danger and persecution have been targeted. They are in breach of the noble humanitarian laws that they claim to uphold. It is clear that we are going backwards when it comes to human rights and compassion. It is tough to say farewell to the days of democracy. In this world the actions of our indifferent leaders will ultimately abolish democracy. What an irony. The Australian politicians are now showing off. They are boasting about how heroic they are. They have suppressed all humanitarian initiatives, they have supported the ongoing tragedy in their immigration detention centres. …

Believe me, Australia, you are on the wrong side of history …

It does not matter how brutal you are.

Days of freedom await us.

Yhonnie Scarce, Silence of the Others, 2014.

Blown glass found 19th Century, steel acrylic paint and wood, variable dimensions. Courtesy of the artist and THIS IS NO FANTASY + dianne tanzer gallery.