Exhibition: Menagerie

Having missed the site visit to Tandanya National Cultural Institute to view the Managerie exhibition which showcased 33 established and emerging artists, I went along today to see the variety of sculptural works depicting animals, which were contemporary Australian art, craft and design. It showed a variety of animals/ insects which held greater meanings to them by the way they had been created and textured. In particular I found 3 sculptures that symbolized expression and meaning. The first being an emu made from barbed wire, representing the main cause of death to the animal throughout the Australian desert. Second being 3 kangaroos made from broken China ceramic plates, each with a different colour, red, blue, and white which represented the English Union Jack and the actions of the kangaroos showed the famous action of "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" which relates to refusing to acknowledge something. Lastly there was a large fish sculpture which was made from plastic bags and rubbish, reflecting the damage that landfill causes to the natural wildlife of the lands. Overall, a great exhibition with an interesting perspective of how Aboriginal Art can be applied to a wide range of mediums and natural resources.

b.mac

http://australianmuseum.net.au/BlogPost/Science-Bytes/Menagerie-contemporary-indigenous-sculpture

Neetan (Camp Dog). Craig Koomeeta, 2008

Thipe (Yellow Bird). Patrick Kunoth Pwerle, 2008

Artist: Shorty Robertson

me,

Shorty Robertson was born at Jila, a large soakage and claypan north west of Yuendumu, Northern Territory in 1925. Shorty was a part of the Stolen Generation as he was forced from his land just after the end of World War 2 and gained freedom again around 1970. Now into his 70's, Shorty still exhibits his art which are themed with relations to specific land beliefs.
"Shorty’s paintings are fresh,vigorous and new. His use of colour to paint and interpret his dreamings of Ngapa (Water), Watiyawarnu (Acacia), Yankirri (Emu) and Pamapardu (Flying Ant) is vital, yet upholding the Warlpiri tradition."

b.mac

http://www.gadflygallery.com/artist_view.php?ArtistID=51

http://www.aboriginalartcoop.com.au/aboriginal-art/shorty-jangala-robertson/ngapa-jukurrpa-water-dreaming-puyurru.php

Artist: Hubert Pareroultja

hey,

Born in Hermannsburg, Alice Springs in 1952, Hubert is another member of the water colour movement in the Aboriginal Art world. He was born in the same lands as Albert Namatjira where we would watch him draw as a young boy. It was his father Reuben Pareroultja, and uncles Otto and Edwin that were part of the original water colour movement that inspired him the draw in this particular style and would draw iconic features of his land. Personally, I like his style of drawings as they seem a little more abstract than other famous artists and in the image below, how he shows the gradient of colours as bold colours, apposed to blending them in.

b.mac

http://www.aboriginalartonline.com/art/hermannsburg.php

Video: Acrylic Paint

just a short video I stumbled upon on YouTube about how using acrylic paints has become more popular amongst the Aboriginal Art scene as it is easier to produce, is more comtemporary and can provide more more income.

b.mac

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKqA3RteH1A&feature=related

Reflective Paper: Rabbit Proof Fence

hey,

for my reflective paper, I decided to extend my knowledge of the history of Indigenous Australians through the times of European settlement. I took notes throughout the film about the connections with traditions and beliefs in icons of their land. For instance, the film makes clear in the beginning about the spiritual belief of an eagle as it looks over them in protection and guidance.
The film is based in the early 1930's and focuses on the stolen generations, based on the real story of Molly Craig, sister Daisy and cousin Gracie and their trek from the Moore River Native Settlement back to their homeland of Jigalong. The movie makes you realize the hardship of these generations and through knowledge of land, spiritual beliefs and determination, how they overcame the "European lifestyle".

b.mac

Artist: Doreen Reid Nakamarra

Another bio on an artist by the name of Doreen Reid Nakamarra (birth: c.1948- October 20, 2009) who was born in the Warburton Ranges, in far eastern Western Australia. "Her pictorial style is based on repeated gestures and lines that build up a three dimensional optical field suggestive of specific stories associated with her land, but possibly also of movement generally – immaterial waves that move the world continuously." Doreen moved to Papunya, where she practiced the style of painting and produced her first completed paintings in 1996, later going on to exhibit her work in the States and in 2007 won the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award general painting prize.

b.mac

http://www.bos2008.com/app/biennale/artist/21#

DVD: Albert Namatjira

me again,

today's lecture focused on famous Aboriginal artist, Albert Namatjira. Born in 1902 (deceased 1958) on the Hermannsburg Mission, Albert became the most notable Aboriginal artists exhibiting his work in galleries in Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne, aswell as being presented to the Queen in 1954. Unlike traditional Aboriginal artists, Albert adapted the European painting style, heavily influencing him to paint with water colours. Although the paintings aren't symbolic like many other Aboriginal Art, they are detailed depictions of his land.

b.mac

http://www.indigenousrights.net.au/person.asp?pID=1013

Our mob: Exhibition

 hey,

today we had a site visit to Adelaide's Festival Centre to view the exhibition 'Our mob'. The exhibition was a reflection of the works of Indigenous South Australian's and the history of the culture of techniques such as 'dot paintings' or as it's known 'Papunya Tula. These were spiritual reflections with the connection of a physical land. There was much more focus on the style and technique in these paintings, which are unique to look at up close as there is so much detail and time put into the work.

 b.mac

Welcome to my blog...

hey,

my first post for this subject doesn't really have too much to say as we were introduced to the course and what we would be looking at over the semester. I'll keep you up to date the following week to see what's new.

b. mac