Sisyphean

Sisyphean by Mererid Velios
Sisyphean by Mererid Velios
Sisyphean - detail, by Mererid Velios
Sisyphean - detail, by Mererid Velios
 'Parlour' by Tina Carr and Annemarie Schone
2019

This installation was created for the 'Interior Monologues' show at Oriel y Bont. Each contributing artist was asked to respond to a work in the permanent art collection of the University of South Wales and I chose 'Parlour' by Tina Carr and Annemarie Schone. But I found I couldn't respond to the image in terms of its interior design, rather I imagined various scenarios to explain why it had been abandoned. This led me to think about geographic inequality in the UK, generational inequality, the housing crisis and the benefits system. I had recently applied for a benefit on behalf of my mother and found the form to be very long, with minutely detailed questions about her. Researching other benefit forms, I found that many were similarly intrusive or seemed insensitive, and for some benefits there is frequent, repetitive assessment. Current problems with the benefits system are well documented such as payments to genuine claiments being refused, benefit sanctions, late payments etc. but the media still present claimants as 'scroungers' rather than victims of an unfair system. In this work I am aiming to 'elevate' the claimant by making the link with Sisyphus which indicates the repetitive and often futile work of claiming benefits.

Creative writers were paired up with artists and Maria Lalic wrote a wonderful piece 'Here is my hand' in response to the works.