Jon Rose, Fence Project

Jon Rose and Hollis Taylor are two virtuoso violinist/composers who
specialise in new music and experimental sound installations but are equally at home
with the classics.  For the past two years, they have been photographing the
extent of the great system of fences that cross the Australian Outback, including
the Dingo Fence and the Rabbit-Proof Fence.  They have documented ancient and
decayed fragments and the freshly maintained working fences.  There are some
startlingly beautiful images of fences running into infinity or of rotting
posts disappearing into salt lakes or sand.  All fences are potential
instruments--they catch wind and resonate.  Jon and Hollis have also been playing and
recording these fence wires with their violin bows.

Wherever they have travelled, they have recorded the stores of local people
who relate to the fences.  The images, the stories, and the sounds of the
fences all become a part of an installation at the Art Gallery of NSW while two
times a day the artists will perform live with a re-created section of fence in
the art gallery.  Their performances are astonishing for the quality of sound
and the special presence these two bring to their work.