On the site once occupied by a Pine Plantation spanning six square kilometres, now lies one of Victoria’s most notorious crime suburbs. The Pines established by Australia’s Housing Commission in the 1950’s is a low income housing region. Since being inhabited the area has bred an ongoing culture of crime. Strong stigmas lay in the shadows where pines once stood, people struggle to get by, grasping at their sense of nation. The air is heavy with patriotism and people proceed to try and forge their own way. With a focus on masculine figures the work looks into themes of escapism and being ‘stuck’ in the centripetal force of Australian suburbia. This project takes a sincere view of the occupants and expands on conversations had while the protagonists drew pictures of Pine trees. Through these forms of documentary making The Pines is a study of a subculture where drugs, violence and crime are fuelled by socio-economic struggle.
Pine drawing No. 2 - Allen
Pine drawing No. 3 - Taz
