A KIND OF DILUTED CASUAL URBAN INTERVENTION, OR A PERFORMANCE INSTALLATION FOR THE SUNDAY ARVO BARBEQUE SET? THIS FESTIVAL IS OBSTREPEROUS, YES, BUT IT IS OTHER THAN THE ADOLESCENT AGITATION I REMEMBER WHEN IT TESTED THE CONSTRAINTS OF ITS HOME TOWN A FEW YEARS AGO. IT IS AS IF THE TROUBLESOME SON OF NEWCASTLE HAS MELLOWED, MAYBE RETURNED HOME FOR A WEEK OF CAMPING OUT IN THE LIVING ROOM AND SCABBING LUNCH FROM THE FREEZER. IT EVEN FEELS LIKE WE MIGHT BE WELCOME HERE, FOR ONCE, AS LONG AS WE DON’T LEAVE A MESS IN THE KITCHEN. WE’VE BOTH MOVED ON SINCE THE OLD DAYS, AFTER ALL.
Elke Reinhuber’s domestic performance installation is the crowning hair bun atop the domestic festive spirit. Dressed in the white salon uniform of her “Urban Beautician” persona, she dusts and preens Civic Park as one prepared to lift the corner of the public fountain to dust beneath. Her ultimate intervention is pointedly humble; amidst the plaques to sundry wars and dead local soldiers, she plants flowers, parsley and a memorial plate dedicated to the honour of the Unknown Housewife. Pointed, and displaying anything but the belligerence of the camp of cyberpunk squatters whose stand occupied that same spot in my very first Electrofringe.
[…]
Dan MacKinlay
RealTime issue #94 Dec-Jan 2009 pg. 30