Onside

Curator: Toni Bailey
Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre
9 February – 24 March 2013

Published June 2013

In the Shadow of the Past, this World Knots Tight

Venn Gallery, Perth
29 March – 10 May 2013

Published June 2013

Rekospective

Yorta Yorta and Wiradjuri curator and lecturer Jirra Harvey traces the career of self-taught graffiti and studio artist Reko Rennie. He uses a traditional Kamilaroi patterning in neon and in graffiti as a contemporary statement of sovereignity. Harvey says: "The subtext to such works is a running narrative on government practices that work to control and restrain Aboriginal communities and the subsequent rebellion of the people."

Published June 2013

My Country: interview with Bruce McLean

On June 1, 2013, a major exhibition opens in Brisbane – the largest exhibition of contemporary Indigenous art ever held at GoMA the prestigious Gallery of Modern Art. Artlink Indigenous co-editor Daniel Browning speaks to Bruce McLean, the curator of My Country, I Still Call Australia Home: Contemporary Art from Black Australia.

Published June 2013

The dearth of criticism

Some artists are often heard to complain about the lack of honest criticism of Aboriginal art. But in such a limited sphere, criticising an Aboriginal artist in formal or aesthetic terms, or at a deeper level, is a bit like shooting fish in a barrel. Too often, critics play the man and not the ball. Can we handle the truth?

Published June 2013

Foundations Edge: Artists and technology

QUT Art Museum
16 March – 26 May 2013

Published June 2013

Toward Indigenous Criticism: The Ah Kee paradox

Métis artist, curator and academic David Garneau explores the current situation of indigenous art through increasing global links and connections. 

Published June 2013

Tracking Bluey Roberts

Artist and curator Troy Anthony Baylis tracks the long art career of Bluey Roberts whose prolific work from carved emu eggs to paintings on ceramics and public artworks reclaims and subverts the notion of Australiana. Roberts' position is that Aboriginal artists create from history.

Published June 2013

Mouths and Meaning Bronwyn Platten, Sarah Coggrave and others

Australian Experimental Art Foundation Adelaide
1 February – 2 March 2013

Published June 2013

Exhibitions to watch

Published June 2013

Good Medicine

Being Aboriginal doesn’t make you wise, spiritual or even good at art. Being Aboriginal is historical just like being any other nationality or ethnicity. All art can be examined ethnographically, all people can be examined ethnographically.

Published June 2013

String theory: Karen Mills

Michelle Culpitt examines the work practice of Northern Territory artist Karen Mills whose paintings are inspired by the string bags made by the women weavers of Arnhem Land. Culpitt writes: "The articulation of her painterly vision is only possible at the nexus of her experience and influences as an Aboriginal woman in contemporary Australia, a place of both deep connection and belonging to country, and also disjuncture and dislocation from a nation in denial of its own history."

Published June 2013