THE stories of people who have faced hardship and homelessness in the Murraylands district are being shared through a special exhibition at Murray Bridge Regional Gallery to mark National Homelessness Week 2024.
Over 50 exhibits, including photographs, audio and art, are on display throughout August to highlight the experience of local people who have been impacted by homelessness.
Titled Reflections on Homelessness, the exhibition was officially launched on Monday, August 5, which marked the first day of National Homelessness Week 2024.
ac.care Murraylands Regional Homelessness Service Manager Thanuja Hiripitiyage said the exhibition offered deep insights into the lives of people who have experienced or been at risk of homelessness.
“This is a collection of personal stories and expressions from community members who have faced significant challenges in their lives with vastly different journeys and outcomes,” Ms Hiripitiyage said.
“Since we first started this initiative in 2022 that encouraged people to share their experiences of overcoming or avoiding homelessness, the impacts of the regional housing crisis and rising cost of living having only grown,” she said.
“Our work highlights how these impacts are being felt across a broad range of people and circumstances, but this exhibition is a great opportunity to reflect and better understand how these issues affect our community’s most vulnerable.”
Ms Hiripitiyage said the exhibition amplified that there was no ‘one face’ of homelessness and that people experiencing hardship do not give up on striving for a better life despite the challenges they face.
“Homelessness is only an experience as part of their life journey and does not define a person’s worth and right to respect,” Ms Hiripitiyage said.
Rural City of Murray Bridge Team Leader Arts Development and Murray Bridge Regional Gallery Director Fulvia Mantelli was proud to present the thought-provoking exhibition.
“We are pleased to be working with ac.care Murraylands to present this important exhibition at Murray Bridge Regional Gallery for our community.
“The exhibition is a valuable opportunity for audiences to take a moment to broaden our minds about what homelessness means, and different ways to think about timely social issues.”
Two Year 11 boys from Mannum Community College attended the opening and shared their thoughts on being involved in the exhibition.
“My work kind of just symbolises what homeless people don’t have and expressing that sometimes all they have is a tent and not much else,” said one student.
His friend said it took some time to come up with a compelling idea.
“My teacher said how it could be like you are sort of stripped of everything, which made me think of nightmares of falling and homeless is like falling away from everything that you had and were – everything that made your life safe and comfortable and it becomes just out of reach,” he said.
“It was a cool experience to be involved and get your ideas and opinion across in a way that is different to just words because then people can interpret the image and take what it means to them.”
Both boys said they would be encouraging family and friends to check out the exhibition and see their works.
Mannum Community College art teacher Holly Clark said participating in the display provided a fantastic opportunity for the students to “dive into some deep thinking about homelessness and what it looks like for different people”.
“It is something that touched a personal note for some students,” she said.
“We are really grateful for ac.care for giving us the opportunity to be part of this fabulous exhibition and the students are really proud to see their work being displayed professionally.”
The Reflections on Homelessness exhibition can be viewed at Murray Bridge Regional Gallery, located at 27 Sixth Street. It will be displayed until September 1, 2024.
If you or someone you know requires support, please contact the ac.care Murraylands Centre on (08) 8531 4900, email care@accare.org.au or visit our Homelessness Services page for more information.
