The performance project "Tino la Bamba: a Spaniard's Journey to Lismore" took place on the highways of rural NSW in 2009. The purpose of the work was to reimagine Miguel de Cervante's novel Don Quixote within the Australian landscape. Over seven days Tino la Bamba and his pedal powered moped Platanito travelled from Sydney to Lismore encountering small townships, local myths and the highway patrol. As you can imagine the two intrepid travellers had to overcome considerable obstacles to reach their destination.


Four years later I want to transform this adventure into a publication. My reason is that while the project was a great success (when Tino arrived in Lismore the local tourist bureau were so enamoured they asked him to be their mascot); over time important elements of the project have been overlooked. Notably these include the relationship of the work to Don Quixote, Australian Identity and discourses of appropriation. The publication will remedy this by bringing an edited version of the blog together with an essay by Australian artist and writer Sean Lowry and Cervantes own prologue from the second part of Don Quixote published in 1615.

The biggest challenge will be to bring all the different elements of the Tino la Bamba project into book form. In this regard I am lucky to have CampbellBarnett http://www.campbellbarnett.com/ on board to collaborate in the design of the publication. Also, what would a book be without a launch. My old friends at Lismore Regional Art Gallery have agreed to host the launch early next year.