“William Blake’s character Orc and I did a metaphorical bar hop and imagined our way into a bar in Richmond on a typically cold, wet winter Melbourne evening. The windows were steamed up from the kitchen and after many whisky shots we were both worse for wear. Back in my real-time studio of course, it was gin&tonics…So, in my imaginary studio conversations Orc was in verbal stream-of-consciousness about how men saw their violence as crucial to their hero’s journey and the mental fight all good people fight with their ordinary Satan-next-door. Orc went on for ages, and I wanted to go home…Finally,…Orc walked over to the bar’s large window overlooking the street and wrote one word with his finger…..”

Images: PHOTO from Unsplash: Photographer Josh Wilburne @joshwilburne
ART: Conversations with Orc II, Carl Gopalkrishnan,U/S 2023