MArCH 17
2020
ACCORDION FOLD ARTIST BOOK
9.5 x 114 inches
EDITION OF 32 + 3 APs
He wasn’t supposed to be riding his bike that day. He was in the process of selling it to pay for my court case and to legally become my father. An ad had been placed in the paper:
HONDA VF 750F
GOOD COND MUCH A1
JUST SERVICED, NEW TYRES
4 MTHS REGO 3,500 ONO
REGO WX489
PH 518515
ANYTIME
But the number wasn’t working – the landline had a faulty cable and no calls were coming through – something we only discovered later. His ute was being serviced and taking longer than expected – so he rode his bike even though it was raining.
It was before sunrise when he came to say goodbye. I was still half asleep when I wrapped my arms around his neck, only fully waking when I heard the ignition turn and the engine idle. I climbed up toward my bedroom window to wave to him –– his taillights illuminating the water beading on the glass –– making the whole world glow orange before it turned to black.
MARCH 17 is an artist book dedicated to Peter Morawetz – the man who chose to be my father – who was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1988. The book catalogues every object that was in his wallet the day he died – the unremarkable ephemera of a 28-year old man – made invaluable by his absence.