A live performance depicting the 2011 AFL mark of the year by suspending players in midair with ropes has been shown at the National Gallery of Victoria.
Andrew Krakouer’s famous mark came to life on Sunday in the NGV’s great hall, where spectators gathered to witness the players being bound and lifted into the air.
Krakouer was playing for Collingwood when he leapt onto Adelaide’s Luke Thompson to claim the spectacular mark.
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The performance, Still Lives: Melbourne, was shown as part of the RISING festival, taking place in venues across the city until June 12.
Five former Aussie Rules players from various levels of the game — Jasper Pittard, Jason Ball, Annie Mack, Jim Marks and Simona Castricum — were involved in the performance.
Krakouer, who also played for Richmond, said he was stunned by the number of people who came to see the work.
“It just shows the impact that Australian Rules football has on people and the community — it connects everyone from all different walks of life and diverse backgrounds,” said the Minang and Inggarda man.
“It’s something I’m extremely proud of and not in my wildest dreams did I ever think it would be a live sculpture like this, so I’m extremely humbled and honoured.”
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Gideon Obarzanek, co-artistic director of RISING, said the festival is about place.
“Nothing says more about Melbourne than progressive social values, our love of sport, particularly football, and art and culture,” he said.
Obarzanek said the work was a metaphor for bringing bodies and communities together, and embedded within it were themes of racism, sexism, homophobia and transphobia.
“It’s been really the sporting codes, in many respects, that have been sometimes progressive and sometimes a bit led by social change,” he said.
Source: AFL NEWS ABC
