A while back I asked Iocus Severus a question, and he answered. I didn't realize it was an answer meant for public consumption until just recently. Now that I know ... here's what Iocus thinks of Robin & the Gang:
You asked what I could tell you about the involvement of
Robin Hely, Peter Burke, and Jason Maling with Neurocam, past and present.
The Melbourne Art scene is relatively small, so one can reasonably quickly
obtain ingress and begin to observe the machinations. Public lectures,
exhibition openings and shortly thereafter, parties yield quite a bit of
information. Perhaps, I was naive in this respect, but I was always under
the impression that artists cleaved together in something approximating a
spirit of community. Nothing could be further from the truth. The
(Melbourne) art "scene" is more fragmented, venomously competitive and
rancorous than you could possibly imagine. The calumny is extraordinary.
I've learned a great deal.
It appears Robin Hely, Peter Burke and Jason Maling, all artists, are close
friends. They and a wider circle of friends, composed mainly of New
Zealanders collaborate on each other's projects. The three of them share an
interest in performance art. Robin Hely's interests seem to centre on a
type of fascination with the intersection between journalistic license and
voyeurism. Peter Burke "investigates" role playing and how this functions
in negotiating one's way through the media saturated world we live in.
Jason Maling's work is perhaps the most focused of the three. His long term
project "Splint" could be said to address prelinguistic modes of
communication. He has constructed a number of sets of components made of
wood, rubber and rope that function somewhat like Meccano, which he uses in
performances where two or more people make whatever their imaginations allow
and then proceed to "play" with them and each other.
Both Jason Maling and Peter Burke seem genuinely bewildered by the Neurocam
phenomenon.
Burke is a quite reclusive character and seems reluctant to talk to anybody
about Neurocam. Including myself. I believe he was significantly
frightened when he learned retrospectively, of the presence of Neurocam
operatives at the Shelly Innocence, Happiness product launch. He moved
house soon afterwards.
Maling, though somewhat wary of all things Neurocam appears to welcome the
attention it has brought "Splint". I confess to resorting to an underhanded
act in an attempt to draw him out on his possible involvement with Neurocam.
He complied with my wishes to an extent but appeared very sincere in his
disavowal of any relationship with Neurocam. He claims to be at a loss as
to why Robert Henley at first, engaged with Splint himself and then
subsequently, directed operatives to do so. I was and continue to be
inclined to believe him.
I've saved the tastiest dish 'til last.
Robin Hely. He is known about town as a "Walter Mitty" of sorts. When
pressed, he is honest regarding his one time operative status with Neurocam
and his dismissal, due to "misrepresentation" of the organisation and its
staff. However, this invariably leads to a curious display of antisocial
behaviour. He is one moment amiable and courteous, the next, a ranting,
weeping nuisance. It is quite apparent that those who know him, indulge his
fantasies of senior operative status in Neurocam, simply to keep the peace.
I suspect he draws personal empowerment, and consequently, a sense of self
worth from leading the unwary to believe he knows more than he actually
does. His recent utilisation of the robinhely.com website to this end, may
be a further, albeit wider reaching example of this. His behaviour is, I
believe, pathological.
I trust this goes some way to answering your question.
Yours sincerely,
Iocus Severus
I've also collected quite a bit of information from "Robin's side," as it were, though I only just asked him today if I can publish those communications. More tk depending on his answer.
(And of course, my follow-up question to Iocus, which is still pending an answer: What is your relationship to Neurocam? It has been my impression that you are affiliated with the organization as a member of Yellow One -- which has been characterized at times as a "subsidiary" of Neurocam. Yet you ponder the true nature and extent of Hely and Maling's involvement in your own organization.
This confuses me. Wouldn't you be privy to these details?)
Hmmmmmmm.
