Art enthusiasts in the Toowoomba Region have an exciting opportunity to experience over 50 contemporary and historical pieces from the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) Indigenous Australian Art collection.
The exhibition, titled “I, Object,” will be on display at the Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery from April 6 to July 21. It presents a broad spectrum of artistic expressions, including contemporary painting, sculpture, and installations by renowned Queensland artists such as Vernon Ah Kee, Tony Albert, Michael Boiyool Anning, Fiona Foley, Danie Mellor, Christian Thompson, and Warraba Weatherall.
The exhibition also includes 20 historical shields, boomerangs, and clubs, offering a comprehensive exploration of Indigenous Australian art and culture. Kullilli and Yuggera woman Katina Davidson, Assistant Curator of Indigenous Australian Art at QAGOMA, emphasizes how contemporary shields by Michael Boiyool Anning and Danie Mellor reflect traditional practices while engaging with Western aesthetics and colonial policies’ impact on Indigenous communities.
“A collection of contemporary shields by artists Michael Boiyool Anning and Danie Mellor resonate with traditional shield-making practices and mark-making traditions they have preserved,” Davidson explains. “These contemporary works engage with the historical shields on display, providing commentary on the impact of Western aesthetics and colonial policies on Indigenous people and society.”
Among the featured works is Tony Albert’s ‘whiteWASH 2018,’ a multimedia installation composed of mid-century Aboriginalia ashtrays, exploring themes of colonial influence. Vernon Ah Kee’s ‘Neither pride nor courage 2006’ offers poignant reflections on ancestral identity through hand-drawn portraits, echoing anthropologist Norman B. Tindale’s work.
Carved sculptures by Wik-Kugu artists Craig Koomeeta and Alair Pambegan, alongside Fiona Foley’s ‘DISPERSED 2008,’ a text-based sculpture, serve as powerful reminders of colonialism’s impact on Indigenous communities, particularly in Queensland’s frontier history.
QAGOMA Director Chris Saines notes that “I, Object” was first developed by Bruce Johnson McLean, former Curator of Indigenous Australian Art at QAGOMA, and exhibited at the Gallery of Modern Art from August 2020 to August 2021. “We’re delighted this iteration of ‘I, Object’ will now tour regional Queensland from 2023 to 2025, continuing its journey from Rockhampton to Caboolture, Toowoomba, Ipswich, Cairns, and Mackay,” Saines remarks.
“‘I, Object’ considers the complex relationships Indigenous Australian artists maintain with objects—from the histories informing their creation to the social and cultural consequences of their collection. The exhibition highlights the pride and inspiration drawn from inherited cultural practices and historical Indigenous objects, while also acknowledging the challenges posed by their collection and estrangement.”
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Source: https://nit.com.au/04-04-2024/10637/I-Object-Indigenous-Australian-Art-tours-to-Toowoomba-Regional-Art-Gallery
