THE DEPARTMENT OF TOTAL FREEDOM hits the west this Fringe Festival

Published on 11 September 2018

You are invited to THE DEPARTMENT OF TOTAL FREEDOM’s first social event for its happy citizens and productive community members, taking place at Braybrook Community Hub as part of Melbourne Fringe.

The COMPLETELY UNMONITORED NORMAL HUMAN SOCIAL GATHERING EVENT #0001 is an interactive performance installation that encourages participants to consider notions of communication, surveillance, government control, identity, politics and the power of propaganda in various forms.

Taking inspiration from George Orwell’s 1984, establishing Australian artist Matto Lucas created this activation to comment on our current political climate in a way that brings people together.

“This work considers the different ways we meet and interact with people in social settings,” Matto said.

The gathering event both encourages and requires audience participation – members of the community are invited to take part in the ‘speed dating’ style meeting event where participants are given a menu of conversation items to choose from.

“If you stray from these topics, who knows how it will upset THE DEPARTMENT,” Matto said.

Matto wants people who come to this event to think about the boundaries of our own freedoms.

“I want it to be fun and to be a bit silly, but ideally I want you to walk away and consider how this work is an absurdist microcosm of the reality we are existing in. I want you to consider, in your everyday lives the bigger game being played.” Matto continued.

So don’t miss the COMPLETELY UNMONITORED NORMAL HUMAN SOCIAL GATHERING EVENT #0001, the perfect chance to celebrate our obvious and complete freedoms during Melbourne Fringe.

COMPLETELY UNMONITORED NORMAL HUMAN SOCIAL GATHERING EVENT #0001

22, 23, 29 September from 12 – 2pm and 6-8pm
30 September from 12 – 2pm
Braybrook Community Hub

More info

Fringe Westside is taking place from 13 - 30 September at various locations across the City of Maribyrnong.

Message from the Mayor, Cr Cuc Lam

City of Maribyrnong is delighted to bring you Fringe Westside – an extraordinary program for all ages. Our City is home to a strong and increasingly creative community and we are proud to support and foster the arts, which contribute to the cultural and civic richness of Maribyrnong. I encourage you all to make the most of the Fringe Westside program and discover why so many artists, trailblazers and gamechangers are drawn to the west.

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