From jewelry and weaving, to acrylic work and traditional paintings, artwork made by Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander artists will be on display at Dudley House from next week.
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The Knuldoorong NAIDOC Art Exhibition yearly celebrates the work of Indigenous artists from around Bendigo.
Organiser and curator Janet Bromley is hoping that in the future the exhibition will be able to open year round as a galley.
Read more: What’s on: NAIDOC celebrations in Bendigo
When Ms Bromley moved to Bendigo she was surprised to discover nowhere to buy Indigenous art.
For her, art is at the centre of Aboriginal culture. It is a way of knowing and telling who they where and where they came from.
A gallery in Bendigo would be a way for Indigenous people to share and pass on their stories.
“Creating is part of the way of Aboriginal people,” Ms Bromley said.
“A gallery is a way for exploring and talking to other people about where Aboriginal people come from in the way of their beings, what the area around their surroundings means.
“A gallery is a way to give people a voice to be able to do that.”
Bendigo based artist Ian Clark has two works in the Knuldoorong exhibition.
Mr Clark was born on Kamilaroi land, which is in the north west of NSW. He began creating art after giving up alcohol around 14 years ago.
Painting fills a need within him to create something that is his, which he can leave behind.
He gets lost in creating his works, which he describes as a “spiritual thing”.
“It gives me something that’s mine,” Mr Clark said.
“It also leaves things that you can touch with your hands that my grandchildren can have and look at and appreciate and touch with their hands as well.”
Mr Clark’s paintings are largely done with acrylic paint and a paintbrush, often featuring ants and other animals.
One, entitled Unnamed, features three colours, black and white, in more than 130 different combinations, interspersed with ants.
Mr Clark sees the Knuldoorong exhibition as a rare chance for people who are Indigenous to put up their work on public display.
“There's a bit of artistic apartheid going on in this country. It’s a bit like a lot of things,” he said.
“There's a self-determination about the Knuldoorong exhibition. We don’t have directives from the government telling me to do this or that this way.”
Ms Bromley both curates and organises the exhibition, an experience which she loves.
“Aboriginal art is more colourful sometimes than other art, it’s got a clarity of colour when you come into the room, it’s quite lovely,” Ms Bromley said.
“To me NAIDOC week is about Aboriginal people, it’s about a celebration of what we do. Each of those organisations and each of those individual people is celebrating what we do.
“But [it’s] also a way of introducing people to all of the wonderful things that aboriginal organisations and people do.”
The Knuldoorong NAIDOC Art Exhibition opens on Thursday July 5, 6pm at Dudley House, 60 View Street, Bendigo, it will be open until July 14, 11am-4pm, closed on Mondays.
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Elspeth Kernebone
Accident brought me to journalism, but every day convinces me again that strong media is more important than ever. After a starting off as the sole reporter in a tiny NSW town, I’m loving the teeming metropolis that is Bendigo. Focussed on health, business and education. Got a tip? Email elspeth.kernebone@bendigoadvertiser.com.au.
Accident brought me to journalism, but every day convinces me again that strong media is more important than ever. After a starting off as the sole reporter in a tiny NSW town, I’m loving the teeming metropolis that is Bendigo. Focussed on health, business and education. Got a tip? Email elspeth.kernebone@bendigoadvertiser.com.au.
