I first became interested in the CaveClan in 2006 whilst studying the effects situationalism could possibly have on architectural iterations in an attempt to more fully engage people with their surrounding built environment... I began to explore 'topside' (above ground), photographing back alleys, fireescapes and rooftops in the Brisbane CBD. Topside urban exploration, although if unenclosed is somewhat less clandestine, is also notably safer than urban spurlunking and draining, so I had opted to wait for a 'cave clan' expo before I started out on my own.
Barfut's Bat Cave started out below a trainline and contained a mix of both concrete, brick and blasted rock tunnels, exiting with a magnificent view of Brisbane. There were Bat's, and Roaches and Rats, and 8-bit music blarring out of a ghetto blaster :) It was amazing seeing the layers and weathering caused by stormwater continually moving over the surfaces, beneath restaurants whose smells wafted down to us, and beneath roads, whose traffic we heard, and past other bends in the tunnels, whose breeze we felt gratefully, being blessed with a good draft the entire journey.
The Lake began with a decent through a manhole and we walked through mostly concrete tunnel. We passed through an open air vent/overflow which provided a nice rest spot, the water below us bright red with oxidization. We then passed further along, coming to a large expansion chamber of Brick. The beautiful brick arches were somewhat spoilt by graffiti, consisting of some relics from the 80's punk movement, but many others more recent. Our journey was stopped prematurely by a high tide as we came to a junction, so we returned via a known manhole.Our final exploration was of what is known as the 'Pink House'. The Pink House was absolutely filled with Graffiti and looked like it was under renovation. Evidence existed that it was still under occupation by squatters, but the overall effect was beautiful in the evening light. Not much remained of it's original fitout save for an old kitchen hood and some wiring. So we shortly left to rest and talk about what it is that makes the cave clan.
In our discussions about the 'dis'-organisation that is the cave clan, certain characteristics that define the brisbane Clan were discussed. The need for subtelty was important. Prime motivations for the effort it takes to remain below the radar include both avoiding the wrong type of people in attendance and avoiding the over-exuberant attentions of too-well-meaning-public-servants or Howard-era-fridge-magnet-waving-terrorist-hotline-regulars.
It is evident through the efforts taken to avoid collective attention, that the Cave Clan exists for the enjoyment of these forgotten urban spaces as they exist, in the rough. The entire time in attendance there was the subtle feeling of being under observation from within the group. They have been approached before by Writers seeking new places for their work, and other various characters. The Cave Clan appears to take pains to avoid these characters in order to protect both the integrity of their dis-orginaisation as will as the integrity of the drains and forgotten places for future generations of Urban Explorers. We spoke as well for the need for dis-orginizations to recruit new members and talent. There needs to be a future in all endeavours or else they become redundant and stagnant. In this respect the Cave Clan is no different. It requires it's participants to seek out new places of interest and bring them back to the group for their shared benefit.
Most of all... dis-organisations need to be enjoyable and without burden. Too much time spent on management (and worse still; micro-management) not only defeats the purpose of participants taking personal intiative in the group and contributing, but also removes the attraction for those that are committed to enjoying their clandestine activities. It needs to flow.
Beureucratic responses to The Cave Clan have been varied in the past. At one point senior members of the group were approached by Governments Agencies to provide information on potentially sensitive targets after 911. Then later was recommended for inquest because of it's apparent 'counter-culture' shadowy characters after the accidental drownings of two graffiti writer's in a popular drain named "Fortress" at sydney.
Finally: here is a link to the TED talk video of Miru Kim who does self-portraits in forgotten corners of the urban organism that is our forgotten places.
And here is a link to one of Brisbane's premiere' urban explorer's WEBSITE which is a Massive Mostache beyond Awesome.
