Monk's Corner: The Moan, Groan & Scream for Just Action!

“It is a marvellous rendition of a man in a classic Zen Meditation pose contemplating the eternal freedom of the soul bound by earthly chains and darkness. I’ve really tried to appreciate the impression of post de-enlightenment it contains”, Al Downer said today. “A bit like being at boarding school”, he mused quietly to himself, "... a tad hard to see the point sometimes".

“Rumour has it that the artist spent over 5 years working on this pose and I’m going to recommend that the Australian government acquires this work of art for the Parliament House Collection. I can see just how much it says about the health and wellbeing of our democracy today”, he added.

“It’s just as good as Mounk’s ‘The Scream’, said the Prime Minister, “Only it’s more Ozzy, Oi, Oi Oi…!”.

“It comes more easy to some. We are a nation of depressives you know, I can’t even face saying sorry to the Aborigines for example. Just too humbling for a stiff neck like mine”, Howard added later when pressed for some comment on its possible deeper meaning and significance for the national estate.

Ruddock’s comments were less gracious, “I was hoping for more of a ‘The Groan’”, he said. “We have invested over five years of taxpayers’ time and money in this project, and now we should see something more than just deep depression. I might be a bit of a Philistine, but I don’t know if it is real art”, he added. "I mean last time it was Blue Poles, and now they are saying it's Camp Blues, ...Pollocks really, I mean, where will it all end?"

And the Ozzy ABC has noted that "Ruddock today urged caution about quick judgments on the situation."

"I've asked that an assessment be carried out and that that be dealt with as a matter of urgency," Mr Ruddock told ABC radio.

"I think informed views on this matter should await some more detailed assessment”, he said.

Asked if it might take another 5-years, Ruddock replied: “It may take forever, after all artists are naughty people and guilty until they prove themselves innocent under our new proposed Art Act 2007 legislation”.

“Real Art takes time and suffering, and we are just trying to help artisitc innovation”, added Downer. "Some artists cut off their ears first you know ... and anyway, God has not told George Bush yet whether Hicks can finish his work before or after he leaves Cuba!", he whispered with a quick wink.

Postnote:

Being told of this emerging real art, the Queen and monarch [of Australia and a number of other small remnant places in the largely American universe] declined to exercise her power as Australia's head of state to get Hicks' The Moan out of the US military prison gallery at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba for her Palace art collection in London.

In a letter from Buckingham Palace, the Queen's correspondence officer said, “… this is not a matter in which Her Majesty would intervene".

A Boston Tea Party anyone? Want scones with that?

A passer-by, calling himself Just Gough, said, on hearing this: “Well might God Save the Queen”, but nobody seems to give a 'flat-fig' about Hicks as one of her subjects! It’s all very well to do “Art@Work” but Art@CampXRay"...?

"I think he should stop it now, before he goes blind!”, he added.

"Too much moaning can get one on a real Downer”, he added, “I got screwed by the Governor General once and Her Majesty said much the same thing at the time. Some things just don’t change: Tradition you know, old boy!. Must keep it up for art’s sake!”.

(Base story see: http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/hicks-charges-within-days/2007/01/31/1169919367746.html and artist's sketch see main leadin at: http://www.theage.com.au/ (on 31 Jan 2007). Art from Wikidedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Scream and Downer’s mug-shot from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Downer Reference to the Queen: see http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/queen-replies-to-hicks-letter/2007/01/30/1169919316836.html ... and some supposed quotes were not really made by the 'named', but for art's sake they have been honoured with enough wit to have maybe said so, if given the chance.)