SPACE 3: ANDREW ANKA

Exhibition dates. 24 May - 4 June 2023
Opening Reception : Thursday 25 May 2023, 6:00 - 8.30pm.

THE BIRTH AND DEATH OF DAWN AT THE GATES OF HELL - A SHORT STORY  

Everyone has their stories. Some are great epic novels, while others are simple footnotes on the pages of history. His mother asked him to share this small part of her story, one month before the cancerous tragedy of her death.

Late 1950’s

Two weeks after the birth of the first son, the domestic violence began in their house.

His father – always insecure – was jealous of the mother’s love for the boy, and fuelled by the overconsumption of alcohol, began to create a personal hell for a family that would eventually grow to 5 children.

When the second child was born, His father declared her to be ‘his’ daughter. And at the age of six months, took her to the pub to “Show her off!” - Was what his mother told him.

It was winter.

The child was returned home wet and almost frozen.

Within days caught pneumonia, and died.

He can only assume that it broke his parent’s souls, but it did not stop his father from being a tyrant. He would go on to physically, emotionally and financially abuse them all. And he failed to protect some of them from sexual abuse.

He wishes this was all fiction.

@andrew_anka_artist 

cr.image artist in studio by Ben Goh