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T
he ReDot Fine Art Gallery presents their first
ever exhibition in Singapore from the Lockhart River Art Centre, which in recent years
has gone through a major resurgence after
bursting on the scene in the mid-90s with a
staple of young, inspiring, modern focused
Indigenous artists, painting in an extreme modern
and western approach.
The artists of Lockhart River Art Centre were identified from the very
early years, both nationally and internationally, as The Art Gang. The Art
Gang formed in 1995 with a group of young artists just out of school. In
the same sense that those who worked on the roads were called the The
Road Gang, this young group of teenagers worked on art.
Lockhart River Aboriginal community is 850kms north of Cairns and is
nestled between Quintell Beach and nearby lush lowland rain forest,
which boasts a bird life that draws watchers from across the world. The
beach is dramatic and spectacular and features as a common thread in
the artists’ work. Many of the language groups from this area have traditionally lived close to the beach which has always provided an excellent source of food. Fishing is still one of the most popular pastimes at
Lockhart River.
Puuya Kuntha - Strong Heart, will be the first ever international solo show
of Irene Namok, the mother of renowned founding Lockhart River artist
Rosella Namok; whom in recent years has become an accomplished and
highly collectable artist in her own right. Irene’s paintings are inspired
by her close connection with local country; they are often emotional
responses to the beautiful views and look-outs around Lockhart and
her favourite fishing spots, where Irene especially enjoys fishing during
Salmon Season.
The extremely abstract nature of her work has been received with huge
acclaim by the global art community and her two previous solo shows
in Australia were both sold out as collectors strived to add her modernity
to their Indigenous and contemporary art collections. Her work, which
has been likened to the works of such greats like Gerhard Richter the
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abstract and photorealistic artist that took Europe by storm in the 6070s, retains a freshness and intoxicating hold over its viewers which is
remarkable given the untrained and natural origins of Irene’s painting
career.
Irene comments ‘I was born on Thursday Island and my grandfather was a
church minister at the Old Site. I was going to get married but the man I was
going to marry died. I have got six kids. Four boys and two girls, but one of my
girls died so now I only have one.
I like to paint about my culture because it’s all I know. The old ones have
taught me and showed me everything.
Puuya Kuntha
Strong Heart
My paintings are about my emotions. I paint about the bush fires and the
waterholes. I paint the lagoons because we like to swim in the lagoons. I also
paint about meeting times and festival times and meeting places. We dress
the kids all up and paint them all and we sit together and we yarn around
the fireplace under the moonlight.’
The exhibition opens on Tuesday, 14th January and runs till Saturday, 1st
March 2014 and it is a must-see for anyone interested in following the
development of modern contemporary Indigenous art, from one of the
Aboriginal art movement’s most refreshing and innovative art centres.
The show will be attended by Irene Namok herself, accompanied by Ms.
Robbi Neal, Artistic Director of Lockhart River Arts Indigenous Corporation.
Location:
ReDot Fine Art Gallery
ArtSpace@Helutrans | Tanjong Pagar Distripark | 39 Keppel Road |
Gallery 9 Unit #01-05 | Singapore, 089065 | T 6222 1039
www.redotgallery.com
Admission
Free
Tuesday – Saturday : 12pm – 7pm,
Sunday/Monday/Public Holiday – Open by Appointment
Opening
January 14 2014 – March 1 2014
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