Georgia’s works begin with an invitation and a provocation. Sometimes they are met with an overwhelming response, sometimes no one answers at all. They do not value either of these outcomes over the other. In recent years they have been banned from Tinder, sued by the estate of Hannah Wilke, and awarded Miss Social Impact in a national beauty pageant. They would like to go viral, become a reality TV star, and be inaugurated into the Guinness World Records Hall of Fame. Banks has never had a filling nor broken a bone (although they have been crucified) and once was convinced they had accidentally sliced away a part of her labia during a performance (they hadn’t).
Georgia Banks is a current studio artist at Gertrude Contemporary, Melbourne.
They completed a Masters of Fine Arts (Research) at the Victoria College of the Arts in 2015.
Remains to be Seen
Reality TV is a system that is notoriously known for not benefitting its participants; contestants have attempted or committed suicide due to the psychological impacts of being on these shows. So why are tens of thousands of Australians auditioning for these shows each year? I believe it is because reality TV readily offers an opportunity to be a known as a household name, without the requirement of skill or achievement. I think people are terrified not to be known. Because nobody wants to die.
Remains to be Seen is essentially a reality TV show that doesn’t exist – it has all the trappings of reality TV without the actual show. The premise of this ‘show’ is that the winner will receive complete control over my funeral and the disposal of my body when I die (this will actually happen).
For this public art project I will work closely with PR and branding experts to create a temporary public installation and a series of live performances that brand myself as a reality TV celebrity.