For decades it’s stood unobtrusively in the corner of our backyards, gathering rust, little more than a straight line between two points. But this most basic ‘mod con’ is arguably one of the most fundamental. It is a device so pivotal to our way of life, yet so entrenched in normality, that we often forget its importance.
Consider the Clothesline not only recognises clotheslines – it showcases them, contemplates them and celebrates them. It drags them from the back blocks to centre stage, to take their rightful place in the sun.
By her own admission, photographer Frances Andrijich is hopelessly hung up on clotheslines. The images she has collected here are painterly and prosaic, and raw and reflective –who knew laundry could be so seductive! With their almost sculptural integrity, Andrijich’s clothesline images remind us of the dignity of domestic labour, with an ever-present hint of whimsy lurking just over the fence – where kids swing gleefully from the Hills Hoist and nanna knickers flutter in the breeze.
About the author
Frances Andrijich is an award-winning photographers who has published 11 books. Her work has featured nationally and internationally in magazines from Good Weekend to Gourmet Traveller. Frances is based in Perth. Journalist and social commentator Dr Susan Maushart is a lecturer in media studies at Fordham University and the author of five books. Susan holds a PhD in media ecology from New York University. After 25 years in Western Australia, she recently returned home to her native New York.
