Hardenvale – our home in Absurdia is a real-scale, immersive, house-like environment by Australian artists Catherine O’Donnell, Kellie O’Dempsey and Todd Fuller. Through drawing, projection, built form, sound and movement, this collaborative project references the architecture of 1960s Western Sydney Government housing as well as spaces the group describe as ‘the cultural fringe of Australia’. Crossing three generations, these artists’ re-imagine lived domestic space while expanding the practice of drawing to create an intimate and unsettling experience. Harvesting images from personal narratives of imperfect moments (both familiar and strange), Hardenvale is a humble dwelling made from drawing in which to spend, loose or ind time. This installation invites visitors to reflect on their own experiences and memories of home.

Images courtesy Silversalt Photography, Peter Morgan and the National Art School.

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body and with support from Create NSW, an agency of the New South Wales Government. In its development phase, Hardenvale was also supported by the The NSW Artists' Grant which is administered by the National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA). This project was also supported by the Parramatta Artist Studios and Bundanon Trust Artist in Residence program.