The Fence

The Fence explores the age-old proverb, "The grass is always greener on the other side", in a modern context. As daily interactions become increasingly screen-centric, the edited, polished versions of other lives fill us with unrealistic musings of false realities. Just as in a fairytale, we forget that the happily ever after we see is far from the whole of a story. And, more importantly, as we constantly pursue insta-ideals, we lose sight of what really makes us happy.

The Fence is housed within three wooden boxes sitting side by side; traces of a white picket fence in their design. As we peer into these boxes, we find in each a tablet screen and Kathleen dancing from one to another. Shot from birds eye view by independent Perth filmmaker Fionn Mulholland, we really do feel as though we’re looking in on the three different little worlds the dancer moves between.

Elise Reitze’s music completes this modern music box, subtly intertwining themes of childhood fantasy into haunting reverberations. We follow Kathleen between her boxes as the green becomes greener and both fireflies and shadows try to capture her attention and ours. What effect do we have as the one peering over the fence? Is it us invoking her longing? Or is she just a victim of her own curiosity?