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Friday, April 5, 2013

"Welcome to my humble home" said Be Free.

There was a notification- tomorrow from 9am come visit."Enter via the back alley", we were told. I knew the place, it was in North Fitzroy and used to be a squat. It had been burnt out a while back. Some speculated the owners doing an insurance job... Right now it had become Be Free's home.
A mate and I went over. Quietly walking through the back alley, we sneaked through the gap in the rear fence and then trampled over sheets of corrugated roofing that were strewn across the ground. Upon entering the house I was mindful that it was an OH & S nightmare, what was left of the roof could collapse at any moment.. but it was all worthwhile to visit Be Free's humble home....


As we enter:


Closer shot of the art work and hand written note to the squat 'rest in peace'.

The Kitchen/Dining area:


What was left of the roof:

All of these images need to be seen in the wider context of the rooms they inhabit....I am just showing you a glimpse.. you need to see it for yourself !


All photographs copyright matthew schiavello 2013
Art is of course copyright of the artist Be Free.

Posted by matthew schiavello at 7:51 AM
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10 comments:

  1. The Maple GirlApril 5, 2013 at 8:30 AM

    Wished I had of made it to see! It looks like such as awesome experience!

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    1. matthew schiavelloApril 5, 2013 at 6:48 PM

      You would have loved it maple girl!!!
      OH & S nightmare though ;-)

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  2. yevishaApril 7, 2013 at 11:22 AM

    wow. what an interesting place. i love all those textures. the ceiling. the dishes in the burnt out kitchen. very sad. the art works are amazing. i agree, it doesn't look like the safest place to be. :) great photos as usual.

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    1. matthew schiavelloApril 7, 2013 at 6:00 PM

      Hi Yevisha, i agree, there is a sadness there. I kept thinking (aside from 'I hope the roof doesn't fall in on me"), 'Shame the squatters were forced to move on.. I hope none of them were hurt on the blaze'.. 'now they are homeless again'.

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  3. Gardener in the DistanceApril 9, 2013 at 6:38 PM

    Stunningly put together, this installation, Matthew! As well as sadness, I see here hope and vibrancy. And a sort of 'never-say-die' attitude.

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    1. matthew schiavelloApril 9, 2013 at 8:43 PM

      I agree with you Gardener about the hope and vibrancy :-)

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    2. AnonymousApril 14, 2013 at 9:11 AM

      Bloody OSH - so happy to not be able to opt out of the health and safety dictatorship - and to be able to visit this strange landscape. Like those above, I did not see sadness, I saw hope and rebirth. Thank you for sharing your talent with us BeFree

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    3. AnonymousApril 14, 2013 at 9:15 AM

      oops, I meant 'happy to be able...'

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    4. matthew schiavelloApril 14, 2013 at 9:32 AM

      Thanks for stopping by and for you comments Anon!
      I love how art can inspire and provide us with hope. Back on November 2012 I blogged about being inspired by visiting art galleries (http://matthewschiavello.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/being-inspired.html)
      Street artists take this further and take the inspiration out of the gallery and into the streets and our everyday lives. Suddenly walking to work can becomes something very different and something full of beauty.

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  4. TomboyBillApril 15, 2013 at 3:35 PM

    great concept...great artwork...& great shots

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