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The SIEV X Memorial
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Landscape Architect: Dr Sue Anne Ware
Location: Weston Park, Canberra
Introduction
The SIEV X Memorial Project remembers those who drowned in the 2001 sinking of a ‘Suspect Illegal Entry Vessel’ when 353 refugees lost their lives. It seeks to raise awareness of the urgent ongoing humanitarian crisis of refugee rights around the world, as well as the personal tragedy of those involved in this single instance.
The project was initiated in 2002 by Steve Biddulph, a psychologist and parenting author, Rob Horsfeld, a uniting Church Minister, and Beth Gibbings, an artist and project manager. In late 2002 they asked Dr. Sue Anne Ware to join them as their landscape architect.
A lack of media response and public concern surrounding this horrifying event prompted Steve and others to develop plans for a memorial to the victims. This was intended to recognise both personal and political issues surrounding the event and to work positively toward a better understanding of problems in order to avoid similar future disasters.
It was also an exploration of how we might be able to understand and assist in the grieving process of those directly involved, something which memorials have always sought to do, but which becomes even more difficult when trying to reach across the divide of countries, cultures and even the dividing lines of the law. It is also something that becomes more urgent as we struggle to find ways to usefully assist in helping refugees of global crises currently involving the largest mass movements of people in human history.
The Memorial project has involved people from all walks of life across the nation. In 2002, primary and secondary schools across the country were invited to participate in developing an idea for the design of a memorial place as a collective work of art. Over 200 entries were received and this collection toured capital cities throughout 2003 and 2004.
The momentum to build a physical memorial increased and Sue Anne’s involvement intensified. Ultimately a design proposal by a Year 11 Brisbane student, Mitchell Donaldson, was selected. This design included the creation of 353 poles – one for each of those that died at sea, adults and children, some with the sinking of the vessel and some after many hours in the water. Larger poles commemorate adults, while smaller ones remember younger victims. Numerous school children, church organisations, refugee rights groups, and various individuals participated by painting and decorating the poles.
The 353 original poles traveled across the continent to Canberra in 2006, to be erected on the fifth anniversary of the event. Refused permission for permanent installation, they were raised instead in a one-day ceremony on October 15th in Weston Park. The ceremony attracted people from all over Australia. Almost 300 poles arrived and were raised by 600 volunteers.
Over 1400 others arrived for the ceremony. Before and after the ceremony, the poles lay in situ while people wandered quietly amongst them, touching their surfaces. The poles were slowly raised for a period of silence. For about five minutes, the poles stood along 300 meters of lakeshore in a beautiful array. They were then gently laid on the grass once again.
This year, in a ceremony on September 2nd, the memorial poles were raised in Canberra’s Weston Park again. Throughout the project, Sue Anne has worked with different groups, prepared material to direct and encourage participatory responses, initiated and run supporting projects in Melbourne (for example the Artist’s Charity Auction), advised on siting, environmental and logistical issues regarding the pole production and installation and liaised with authorities.
This involvement by a landscape architect at all levels of a process from conceptual development to final installation, over the course of five years and across communities throughout Australia sets a new model of engagement by professional designers. It extends the range of skills and assistance for which landscape architects are recognised, as well as reinforcing the direct relevance of such assistance to the successful physical construction of environments – in this case a sculptural memorial in the public realm… a physical catalyst for social change.
introduction / overview / images / location / Projects
2008
