An expanded practice entailing architecture and research; resulting in collaborative, speculative, activist propositions

Upon returning from Europe, several major developments broadened the scope of Gallois’ creative practice. Between 2004-7, Gallois completed a degree in architecture at UTS. Starting in 2005, Gallois made a conscious decision to turn the direction of his practice inwards (so to speak) and engaged with Australian Indigenous history and culture (culminating in his PhD). Since 2005, Gallois’ practice has located itself more firmly between art and architecture, has been more socially and environmentally engaged, and has been characterised – in process – by research and long-term collaborations.

Recent collaborative, speculative ‘activist’ works include The Reincarnated McMansion (2008-), 1 house = 1000 homes (2009), the Wellington projects (2010-13), the Infrequent Flyer campaign (2013), Wellington Wiradjuri Culture Centre (2013), PhD on the Aboriginal Flag (2017) and The Caged Trees of the central West design studio (2018).

The Reincarnated McMansion Project proposes to audit, dismantle and rebuild a single McMansion dwelling. An unsustainable large home will be reincarnated into two or three best practice, zero emission smaller green homes using the existing McMansion building materials. The Reincarnated McMansion project was launched on Radio National’s then By Design program in 2008, it was awarded an Australia Council Connections Residences Grant, and has enjoyed sustained media attention both in Australia and North America.

Conceived as a speculative housing project, 1 house = 1000 homes invited six international community groups and NGOs to submit housing proposals that could be funded through the sale of a single Australian home. 1 house = 1000 homes, was commissioned by Carriage Works Sydney and later exhibited at McClelland Sculpture Survey & Award in Melbourne.

The Wellington Projects consisted of a publication and a series of research-based interpretive artworks. The Wellington publication is a 64-page newspaper-style ‘book’ featuring contributions by and perspectives on the local Aboriginal community as a gesture toward writing their narratives back into the recorded history of the area (central NSW). The Wellington artworks were exhibited at Artspace Sydney and Western Plains Regional Centre, Dubbo in 2013 and the Centre for Contemporary Photography, Melbourne, in 2014.