From Where I Stand group exhibition
Representing land, culture and politics in Victoria
One Mob, One Voice, One Land
– words from famed Koorie artist Lin Onus that continue to resonate today
From Where I Stand: Place, Culture and Politics seeks to share stories through the work of 17 Australian artists, all First Peoples of this country, who now call Victoria home. Featuring both established and emerging artists, the exhibition opened as part of NAIDOC Week celebrations at Melbourne Museum on 11 July 2014.
Kimberley Moulton says the exhibition theme came from reading Onus’ words and thinking about the diverse community in Victoria. "The theme leads to thinking about our voice as a community, our strengths and where we stand on our identity and culture," she said. "Our place, culture and politics are all intrinsically linked and the contributing artists express these themes through diverse media and styles. The exhibition also reveals how contemporary artists are challenging long-standing perceptions of what Aboriginal art is."
Josh Muir of the Gunditjmara/Yorta Yorta people is an emerging artist. Based in his home city of Ballarat he is thrilled to be part of the exhibition. Muir has two pieces on display including a sombre view of Melbourne from across Port Phillip Bay. "Summertime Sadness highlights the distance Aboriginal people can feel, even in the city. These buildings have been built on Aboriginal land and there’s a sadness that hangs over them."
Muir’s second piece, See No Evil, urges his community to "ignore the evil" of the many negative substances and outlets seen in Australia’s culture at the moment. "Stay focused – don’t fall for those traps," he says.
At the other end of the experience scale, Megan Cope has been producing and exhibiting unique mixed media pieces for eight years. A member of the Quandamooka people, but based in Melbourne for the last few years, she says her home of Stradbroke Island still inspires much of her work. "My country is a small island, surrounded by water. So water is a significant feature in what I create," she says.
Politics, and questions of Aboriginal identity, are also dominant themes for Cope – particularly in After The Flood (Yalukit Willam) and After The Flood (Boon Wurrung), the two pieces on display in From Where I Stand. "I am really committed to the community and our culture – and also challenging the ideas of contemporary Aboriginality," she adds.
17 artists on display
| Artist | Medium | People |
|---|---|---|
| Paola Balla | Photographic prints | Wemba Wemba / Gunditjmara |
| Peter Waples-Crowe | Mixed media on paper | Koorie (southern New South Wales) |
| Megan Cope | Mixed media on canvas | Qandamooka (Queensland) |
| Ben McKeown | Acrylic on canvas | Wirangu (South Australia) |
| Josh Muir | Digital print on canvas | Yorta Yorta / Gunditjmara |
| Steaphan Paton | Video installation | Gunai |
| Brian McKinnon | Acrylic on canvas | Yamatji / Wongai (Western Australia) |
| Ray Thomas | Acrylic on canvas | Brabrawooloong Gunnai |
| Eileen Harrison | Acrylic on canvas | Gunai / Kurnai |
| Lisa Kennedy | Acrylic on canvas | Tra-wool-way (Tasmania) |
| Kevin Williams | Acrylic on French linen | Waradjuri (New South Wales) |
| Patsy Smith | Photographic prints | Taungurung |
| Eric Brown | Acrylic on canvas | Kamilaroi (Queensland) |
| Steven Rhall | Photographic prints | Taungurung |
| Lisa Waup | Work on paper | Gunditjmara |
| Patrice Muthaymiles Mahoney | Acrylic and ochre on paper | Kamilaroi, Anewan and Dunghatti |
| Daniel Kelly | Arcrylic on paper | Wathurwurrong |
Exhibition Curator: Kimberley Moulton