The Twins – Wasana and Naryma Dixon The Dealer – Alice Williams |
Pemulwuy Dream Team
Boxing game by You Are Here, 2009 Pemulwuy Dream Team is an interactive boxing game inspired by the legend of Pemulwuy who led Indigenous resistance to European settlement in 1788. The game grew out of animation workshops conducted during a Performance Space residency at the Redfern Community Centre in February 2008. The participants were asked to create a Pemulwuy “Dream Team” to continue the fight for justice but in the contemporary context - exploring the complex interaction between community, space and identity on The Block. The game was filmed in the famous Tony Mundine Gym, training centre for Champion boxer Anthony Mundine and involves local residents who assume the identity of boxing heroes and take on opponents as diverse as dealers, developers and colonialists. The software was developed by Andy Nicholson and released under GNU license. The work makes an intervention into traditional gaming practices by transforming generic experiences of violence and competition into the specific context of Redfern. It invites the participant to step from the confines of the game and participate – intervene – in the issues of the local community. For more information on this project go to You Are Here website.
"Tonight will be the fight of all fights as two tough competitors, Danny and The Crown, step between the ropes to settle an old score. Tensions in this fight run deep – an ancient rivalry which has been fought for generations. The Crown is brutal in the ring delivering an infamous cut throat finish to a fight back in 1802 – he literally took Pemulwuy’s head clean off as he stole the title for the heavy-weight championship. In a move jarring to the locals he took this trophy back to England and tonight Danny is fighting to bring it home. Danny will be channeling the fighting spirit of Pemulwuy – a known trickster in the ring. He is as quick and light on his feet as his mentor but his speed and daring will come up just as hard against the imperious, dominating and genocidal force of The Crown. As he steps up to another bout of this old battle Danny will be asking no favors and certainly granting none. There is much at stake - Danny will be fighting to not only get back his hero’s head but to save his own. In the near corner, wearing red we have Redfern hero Danny who channels the fighting style of the legend of Pemulwuy… In the far corner, wearing Black we have The Crown, who has been raping, murdering and plundering his way across the world in a series of dirty fights… Redfern are you ready to rumble!"
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