Artwork Description
This is a lane with a name and a lamp in memory of the woman who survived being beaten and raped here. She happened to be lesbian. When the sun sets this lamp keeps vigil along with you who read this in silent meditation.
– Professor Michael Taussig
Lamp for Mary is an artwork by Mikala Dwyer located in Mary Place, off Bourke Street, in Surry Hills. It is the result of a community initiative to commemorate a violent act and takes the form of a large glowing pink street lamp, together with accompanying text.
The work operates on several levels, increasing safety as a positive legacy of the assault, creating a poignant tribute to all women who have experienced violence, and also acting as a sign of resilience and hope, lighting the way forward for equal rights for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.
Commission
The City of Sydney invited artists to submit proposals for a new artwork, to be a reflection on the social heritage of the site, the community action surrounding the original artwork and support for its contemporary reinterpretation. It was also intended to energise the area as a space that is used on a daily basis, while engaging with the reality of the history of Mary’s Place.
Mikala Dwyer’s proposal was selected for its appropriate response. Her proposal conceived a “big glowing pink lamp” as a hybrid between public street lamp and lamp for the home, partly inspired by the domestic quality of the previous artwork. She envisaged that the light would act as a memorial to victims of violence as a “pink eternal flame” but would also serve to illuminate the dark lane and make the zone protective of its community.
The response to the artist’s proposal during community consultation was very enthusiastic, with an ensuing recommendation that the work should also include a commemorative text to contextualise the work and increase the anti-violence message. This idea was welcomed by the artist, who has used text in previous works, and she invited renowned writer and cultural theorist Professor Michael Taussig to compose the accompanying words.
A ribbon of pink laser cut lettering runs in one long line alongside and behind the lamp, attached to the wall of the nearby Beresford Hotel. It reads:
This is a lane with a name and a lamp in memory of the woman who survived being beaten and raped here. She happened to be lesbian. When the sun sets this lamp keeps vigil along with you who read this in silent meditation.
Artist
Dwyer is a very established and well respected artist based in Sydney. She is known for her installations and public artworks that combine a deft and playful use of everyday materials to create powerful environments.
