Gallery Lane Cove + Creative Studios July 2023 Exhibition – Objectified

Blak Douglas trained in illustration, photography and Yidaki, but has explored various artistic mediums throughout his career. He is widely known for his painted works. In his own words, Douglas’ work is informed by his background in graphic design and is “devoutly politicised per social justice”. In 2022 Douglas was awarded the Archibald Prize for his work ‘Moby Dickens’.

For ‘Objectified’ Douglas has curated a selection of masterworks of great cultural significance that represent the wealth, power, and diversity of First Nations art.

Consisting of paintings, sculptures, and cultural objects, ‘Objectified’ elicits a dialogue between a millennia-old rich cultural visual language and contemporary practice.

The exhibition features a series of 9 car bonnets painted by artists from Tjala Art, in the Amata community, in far north-west South Australia on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands.

Rhonda Davis, Senior Curator at Macquarie University Art Gallery, explains that “since the explosion of the Papunya Tula Painting Movement in 1973, the painting up of the Jukurrpa (the Dreaming) on discarded material has been standard practice. This significant suite of car bonnets… signifies the continuing evolution of the Aboriginal Painting Movement; the bold execution of colour and composition postulates the contemporaneous nature of the works and their relationship to the potency of the Dreaming. The collection represents self-determination and the importance of having access to homelands as a source of law, culture, and identity.”

Artists

Lorraine Babui, Maringka Baker (& family), Maureen Baker, Bronwyn Bancroft, Kenny Brown, Hector Tjupuru Burton, Gloreen Campion, Bessie Daylight, James Iyuna, Jenni Kemarre Martiniello, Tjungkara Ken, Kerrie Kenton, Lipundja, Minnie Lumai, Queenie Mckenzie, Enraeld Djulabinyanna Munkara, Michael Mick Munkara, Mitjili Napurrula, Peter Newry, Trevor Nickolls, Billy Morton Petyarre, Linda Stevens, Phyllis Thomes, Tjanpi Desert Weavers, Chris Tobin, Leanne Tobin, Adam Victor, Iyawi Wikilyiri, Yirawala, Frank Young and Yartitji Young.

Curator: Blak Douglas