WEEK 4 Lin Onus: picturing histories speaking politics

In the lecture we watched part of the ABC TV series Art and Soul by Hetti Perkins, Senior Curator of Aboriginal Art at the Art Gallery of NSW.

Perkins introduced the program talking about the ‘land of the dreaming’ where she grew up with her famous father Charlie Perkins. We see the ground breaking contemporary art of Lin Onus juxtaposed against the deeply spiritual work of Rover Thomas who communicated messages from the dreaming through his art. And we met South Australian artist Yvonne Koolmatrie who reinvigorated the ancient tradition of Narrindjerri weaving by combining traditional forms with contemporary subject matter.

At the end of this section we see Hetti Perkins and Brenda Croft discussing the impact that the removal of Aboriginal children from their families had on their lives.

In the tutorial we broke up in groups and discussed questions.

Question 1: Is the work of artists like Lin Onus and Yvonne Koolmatrie primarily about loss or is it about a reinvention of culture?

What our group thought was yes, the reinvention of culture. Yvonne Koolmatrie is still with their culture. Making bags, weaving from plants. This is art moving forward. 

It is also primarily about loss. We talked about theme in the work generated from loss, the Narangari people, pulling plants. They could not get back what he's lost but can reinvent his culture. 

Question 2: What is the relevance of traditional art forms like weaving and cross hatching when it’s applied in a contemporary urban context?

What our group discussed was the relevance of traditional art form was back then it was used as a tool but in our times 'now' its a reinvention of culture. It means something personal to the artist, their heritage, their culture in their own way. 

To replace what has been taken (try and thrive again), re-invent. visual reference for the past.

Reference: Leslie, D 2010, 'Lin Onus: picturing histories speaking politics, Artlink, vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 28-33.