Celebrating Culture: Contemporary Indigenous Art is an exhibition that showcases the works of established and emerging contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait artists. It examines themes of identity, colonisation, personal history and community.
The diversity and richness of this significant cultural heritage, grounded in a 60,000-year-old history, is open at Glen Eira City Council’s Gallery until Sunday 28 July 2019.
Contemporary Indigenous experiences and cultural practices are investigated through a compelling selection of paintings, photography, drawings, mixed-media, video, sculpture, ceramics and installations by Brook Andrew; Tony Albert; Hannah Bronte; Michael Cook; Janet Fieldhouse; Gali Yalkarriwuy Gurruwiwi; Hayley Millar-Baker; Kent Morris; Vincent Namatjira; Wayne Quilliam; James Tylor; and Vicki West.
The exhibition has been curated by Council’s Gallery Co-ordinator/curator Diane Soumilas who said many of the works are embedded with thought provoking post-colonial narratives, and personal experience, generating new perspectives of Indigenous art in Australia.
“The exhibition recognises and celebrates the power, creativity and dynamism of First Nations artists, positioning Indigenous art at the forefront of contemporary practice,” Ms Soumilas said.
Free floor talks by artists Hayley Millar-Baker and Kent Morris will be held on Friday 28 June at 12pm. Indigenous photographer and RMIT University Adjunct Professor Wayne Quilliam will also present a floor talk on Friday 5 July at 12pm. Both floor talks will be held in the Gallery.
The exhibition is programmed in association with National Reconciliation Week, the 2019 Glen Eira Storytelling Festival and NAIDOC Week.
Celebrating Culture: Contemporary Indigenous Art until Sunday 28 July 2019 at Glen Eira City Council Gallery, corner Glen Eira and Hawthorn Roads, Caulfield. Gallery Open: Monday–Friday, 10am–5pm; Saturday and Sunday, 1pm to 5pm. Closed public holidays. Free Entry. www.gleneira.vic.gov.au/
