Sydney Exhibition

Julian Hamman

Opens Wednesday 19 July, 6 – 8pm
Runs 20 – 30 July, 2023

Julian Hamman is an indie filmmaker & video artist working on Dharawal and Gadigal land. His practice combines elements of slow cinema and tragedy story structure; often following working-class characters who are tackling disillusionment, apathy and suburban malaise.

In his first solo exhibition, Julian presents Parkland – an immersive series of video installations centering around our apathy towards tragedy and suffering. In six ominous scenes we observe violent moments distilled down to their bare essentials; without narrative, context or reasoning. 

The works create a fly-on-the-wall simulation of aloof characters choosing to ignore the conflicts and aggression happening right under their noses. Fleeting moments of brutality are set against cosy parkland exteriors as unnamed figures navigate their way home from school, play basketball and meet at the skatepark.

Using detached tracking shots, monotonous dialogue and minimal editing, the audience is invited to exercise their empathy. Choose whether to stay and sympathise with the victims, or abandon them; moving onto the next projection.