Boom

Editorial

The mining boom in Port Hedland and Karratha brought economic prosperity to Western Australia's capital city, but also resulted in rapid change. Among other things, the vast influx in the number of people seeking their fortunes caused Perth property prices to soar, as miners chose to live in the capital and commute to mining towns.

While some relished the chance to dive in and make their millions, others suddenly found themselves living in a city that was no longer affordable, and had to work harder to maintain their lifestyles or hit the road. Perth's urban landscape mutated as cranes and construction encroached on the living spaces of those who could only sit by and watch.

For some, however, the boom proved to be a galvanising force, and alternative viewpoints burgeoned into extreme creativity. boom. is a fascinating exhibition that explores how the unprecedented changes in Perth impacted the lives of local artists, their practices and their approaches to art-making. It surveys an array of mediums including photography, poetry, drawing, architectural design, performance art, fashion, sculpture and video works, and is accompanied by a partly-fictional text published with the same name.

Aimee-Lee Curran