Over the past year, Dungog-based artist Helene Leane has been thoughtfully crafting a unique body of work for the This Here Then Now project, a museum activation initiative funded by the Regional Arts Fund. This project, created by Arts Upper Hunter in collaboration with the Dungog Museum, Scone Museum, and Tocal Homestead, invites artists to explore museum collections, selecting stories, places, or objects as inspiration for new works.
For her exhibition titled, Bing Bang Bing. Cash is King!, Helene chose a beautifully ornate National Cash Register—a relic from the days when pounds, shillings, and pence were Australia’s currency. Originally a centrepiece in Skillen’s grocery shop, this register served the Dungog community until Australia’s transition to decimal currency in 1966. The shop, once located where Dungog Medical Surgery now stands, is brought to life again through this exquisite artifact.
Through the lens of this cash register, Helene has delved into themes of currency, consumerism, and their lasting impact on Australian society, with a particular focus on the Dungog community. Her creative journey involved gathering historical photos of shopfronts, workers, and the goods they sold, offering insight into Dungog’s retail past and our evolving consumerist history.
Join us to view the cash register and discover Helene’s insights and creative reflections on this interesting piece of history. Her exhibition opens at Dungog Museum on November 29 at 6 p.m., perfectly timed with Dungog’s Christmas Street Party.
Official Opening: Friday 29 November 2024, 6pm.
Dungog Museum,105 Dowling St, Dungog.
Museum open: Wednesday 10am – 12.30pm and Saturday: 10am – 2pm
For more information regarding the Dungog Museum visit Facebook
Helene Leane with the cash register. Photo taken by Jan Lyons.
This project is supported by:
