Fantasy Institutions
Sadly, the story of institutions where First Nations culture – as distinct from their wonderful visual art – can be seen and appreciated is a generally unhappy one. Non-indigenous planners Read More
Two Sisters Flying
How do you fancy flying in an aircraft called Minyma Kutjara Tjukurpa? In case your Pitjanjatjara isn’t up to it, this name tells the Jukurpa story of two sisters who Read More
Flash Paintings
The telling and re-telling of the Papunya Tula story ought to become more scientific and less mythical as time passes and more research is done. So it’s disappointing to read Read More
Biennale Bonanza
The 24th Biennale of Sydney (in its 50th year) which will open next March is all about excess. Ten Thousand Suns is its name, reflecting “a multiplicity of perspectives, cosmologies Read More
Lutruwita Lunacy
Did it cross your minds that one of the factors that caused the rejection of the Voice Referendum was the very public divisions on the issue by Aboriginal people themselves? Read More
Beaucoups de Buku
A couple of weeks ago I was questioning the decision by policy-makers at the amazing Buku Larrnggay Art Centre in Yirrkala, far east Arnhermland to present the riches from nine Read More
Nellie Walker Revealed
Given the post-Referendum efforts of the likes of Tony Abbott and News Ltd to roll back progress made in recent years to understand and appreciate Aboriginal history and culture, this Read More
The Passing of Two Stars
Mrs Marawili 1939 to 2023 & Mrs Timbery 1931 to 2023 In November 2018, Mrs Marawili received a solo show at the Art Gallery of NSW – an all-too-rare- event Read More
Riches Around the World
Time to whet your appetites with news of serious exhibitions of First Nations art (and culture) in a variety of venues. Last weekend in Sydney for instance, I managed four Read More
ABORIGINAL LAW
Since I first began experiencing and examining the complexity of First Nations culture, I have become convinced that it was the colonial destruction of the hierarchies and discipline that were Read More
Tarnanthi Returns in October
Australia’s leading Aboriginal art festival, Tarnanthi this year includes exhibitions at the Art Gallery of South Australia, a state-wide festival with exhibitions and accompanying events, and the Tarnanthi Art Fair, Read More
Biennale Goes Indigenous
The Biennale of Sydney and the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain have announced a creative partnership to promote First Nations art. The two organisations have established the role of the Read More
Sun and Shadow
I recently remarked on the passing of the Indigenous community art centre as the basis for exhibitions – whether commercial or institutional. And then I recalled that one art centre Read More
Sydney Contemporary Artfair
As your regular commercial gallery has undoubtedly told you several times, the 7th Sydney Contemporary is now OPEN! Those galleries really have to work hard for the Fair– to afford Read More
Diversity in the KWM Award
What is surely the most diverse art award for Indigenous Australia has just uploaded its finalists on to the web. The King & Wood Mallesons Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Read More
Museums on Hold
It seems the only people interested in the much-delayed fate of the important Tarrkarri Aboriginal cultures museum in Adelaide apart from AAD is the ABC. Their reporter asked a vital Read More
Big and Rooted Takes the Telstra
The judges for the 2023 Telstra NATSIA Awards have maintained what seems to be becoming something of a tradition in their selection of the ‘Big Telstra’ winner. It literally has Read More
TIM KLINGENDER 1964-2023
As the Aboriginal art world gathers to commemorate the dynamic and influential career of auctioneer Tim Klingender, I’m going to offer a slightly more personal take. For it was very Read More
APYACC Part 8
The National Gallery of Australia’s Review into the APY Art Centre Collective’s proposed exhibition of 28 paintings under the title, ‘Ngura Pulka - Epic Country’ has cleared the works as Read More