Station 1
Pieces of Fish (detail), acrylic, steel, fishing line, 100 x 100 x 100cm. Image courtesy of the artist.
Pieces of Fish is a reflection on Australia's condemnation of asylum seekers, and the system of mandatory detention. It is based on conversations between the artist and Eaten Fish, a 25 year old artist from Iran who has been held in the Manus Regional Processing Centre for the last three and a half years.
Eaten Fish has been condemned to indefinite incarceration under the rule that declares no asylum seeker who tried to come to Australia by boat after July 19, 2013 would be allowed to set foot in Australia. Eaten Fish has become an important voice in revealing what is happening behind the fences of the detention centres via his cartoons.
This artwork weaves together the experiences that Eaten Fish has shared with the artist and other supporters, as well as through his own illustrations. The work was developed in consultation with him and is based on his description of himself: "I'm like a fish bone. Gotten from the sea. Eaten and thrown away for so long."
Meditation
Pilate asked what crime Jesus had committed.
It was a good question.
Jesus had annoyed the religious leaders, of that there was no doubt.
He had been critical of social and religious structures.
He had healed villagers;
He had told stories to the crowds;
He was probably a threat to public law and order;
But was that enough to condemn Him, to end His life?
But He would not defend Himself –
The storyteller was silent now
and the crowd was noisy
and Pilate handed Him over to be crucified.
© Ruth Burgess and Chris Polhill
Eggs and Ashes: Practical & liturgical resources for Lent and Holy Week.
Station Information
- Year: 2017
- Station Number 1
- Jesus is Condemned to Die
- Exhibitor Marziya Mohammedali
Reading
Jesus was taken in chains to Pilate. The chief priests were accusing Jesus of many things, so Pilate questioned Him. “Aren’t you going to answer?” he said. “Listen to all their accusations.” Jesus refused to say a word and Pilate was amazed.
Pilate spoke to the crowd, “What do you want me to do with the one you call King of the Jews?” They shouted back. “Crucify him!”
‘But what crime has he committed? Pilate asked.
They shouted all the louder, ‘Crucify him!’
Pilate wanted to please the crowd, so he set Barabbas free for them. Then he had Jesus whipped and handed Him over to be crucified.
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