Fine Art Gallery

Australia's oldest exhibiting Aboriginal art gallery

exhibition Urban Walkabout - Alien{N}ation

From 22nd September to 3rd November 2018
  • OPENING 22nd September 2018 11:00 - 12:30 pm 31 Lamrock Avenue, NSW, 2026

The exhibition at the Bondi Gallery, Alien[N]ation, is an urban Aboriginal art survey drawing on works from the Cooee Art Gallery archive and incorporating new works by artists currently represented by the gallery.

Since the genesis of the Urban Aboriginal art movement in the 1960s, dispossession and alienation have been a common thread. Indigenous art is generally considered ‘Contemporary’ and the term ‘Urban’ has been applied to Aboriginal art created in a modernist Western style. Whether the artists have been self-taught or schooled, marginalised or indoctrinated within the mainstream, their art often deals with social and cultural issues such as the stolen generation, land rights, and reconciliation as they question identity and challenge the colonial accounts of Australian history.

Director of Cooee Art, Adrian Newstead OAM, opened Cooee Art Gallery (then the Cooee Emporium) in 1981 as urban art began to coalesce into an exciting movement. In 1984 Cooee’s curator, Chris Watson, worked on Koori Art ’84, an exhibition that was held at Contemporary Art Space in Sydney. This exhibition, and the advent of the Boomalli Urban Artist Cooperative later that year, provided a focus for the movement.

Now, more than 30 years later, the founding urban artists have been followed by dozens of others.

Alien[N]ation draws upon the Cooee archives as well as featuring works by four urban artists who are currently represented, though not exclusively, through the Gallery: Helen S. Tiernan, Blak Douglas, Jacob Stengle and Ian Waldron. In Tiernan’s textured works, feminised backgrounds underlie historic first contact imagery. They are a poignant reminder of the way in which Europeans romanticised the landscape while appropriating the sites and imagery of those they colonised in the antipodes. Ian Waldron’s Carpentaria Series shows Aboriginal stockmen engaging in enterprise on their own terms, while seductive vintage advertising images for tea, flour, and sugar belie the fact that these were at one time laced with poison to dispossess Aboriginal people of their land. Jacob Stengle, brought up in an orphanage after being stolen from his family in the 1960s, harks back to the children of his youth, and the fantasy world into which they retreated.

Concurrent with this exhibition, Blak Douglas has created a mural on the sea wall at Bondi Beach. Seaweed Mob (2018), a major work commissioned by Cooee Art Gallery, pays homage to the original inhabitants of Sydney’s south coast, the Gadigal. Having sourced what is reputed to be the only known photograph of a ceremony on the southern end of the beach, he incorporated it into a panoramic photograph taken on his phone when the beach was completely covered in seaweed. The image has been further enhanced using local rock carving imagery, stylised hand & foot prints, and a ‘you are here’ map on left hand edge, which traces the coastline like a ‘bloodline’.

To view the online catalogue, please click here

IMAGE REMOVED - 20180918151809

Artworks
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As Above So Below (Triptych) by Helen S Tiernan
As Above So Below (Triptych) - 2018
Helen S Tiernan 11

180 x 180 cm total
#16758 LOCATION: Bondi Beach
$25,000.00

Full Moon by Trevor Nickolls
Full Moon - 2010
Trevor Nickolls 1

91 x 91 cm
#16760
SOLD

Looking for Bottles by Ian Abdulla
Looking for Bottles
Ian Abdulla 2

152.0 x 90.5 cm
#16787 LOCATION: Bondi Beach
$12,000.00

We are stronger when we are together by Helen S Tiernan
We are stronger when we are together - 2018
Helen S Tiernan 11

169 x 110 cm
#16759
SOLD

Sexy Dancing (Girls) by Blak Douglas
Sexy Dancing (Girls) - 2000
Blak Douglas 6

92 x 120 cm
#15127 LOCATION: Bondi Beach
$6,500.00

Port Jackson- Deep Time by Helen S Tiernan
Port Jackson- Deep Time - 2017
Helen S Tiernan 11

162.0 x 59.0 cm
#15480 LOCATION: Bondi Beach
$5,600.00

Boat People by Gordon Syron
Boat People - 2013
Gordon Syron 39

40 x 40 cm
#11349 LOCATION: Bondi Beach
$5,000.00

Warburton by Jacob Stengle
Warburton - 2018
Jacob Stengle 27

91 x 121 cm
#16640
$4,800.00

Instant Paint Removal by Blak Douglas
Instant Paint Removal - 2016
Blak Douglas

91 x 61 cm
#15150
SOLD

Rabbiting on Gerard Mission by Ian Abdulla
Rabbiting on Gerard Mission - 1998
Ian Abdulla 2

78 x 133 cm
#15566 LOCATION: Bondi Beach
$3,500.00

Untitled by Laurie Nilsen
Untitled - 2010
Laurie Nilsen 1

90 x 52 x 15 cm
#16791 LOCATION: Bondi Beach
$3,300.00

1788 Boat People by Gordon Syron
1788 Boat People - 2013
Gordon Syron 39

105 x 71 cm
#11353 LOCATION: Bondi Beach
$3,000.00

Dislocation Red 7/20 by Lin Onus
Dislocation Red 7/20 - 2000
Lin Onus 22

76 x 56 cm
#16472 LOCATION: Bondi Beach
$3,000.00

Oblivian 1 02/20 by Paul Bong - Bindur Bullin
Oblivian 1 02/20 - 2017
Paul Bong - Bindur Bullin 1

54 x 114 cm
#16834 LOCATION: Bondi Beach
$2,500.00

A bird in the hand by Trevor Nickolls
A bird in the hand - 1988
Trevor Nickolls 1

51 x 61cm
#14069 LOCATION: Bondi Beach
$2,200.00

Invasion Day by Gordon Syron
Invasion Day - 2013
Gordon Syron 39

60 x 60cm
#11350 LOCATION: Bondi Beach
$1,800.00

Untitled (Red Coat) by Gordon Syron
Untitled (Red Coat) - 2013
Gordon Syron 39

60 x 60cm
#11351 LOCATION: Bondi Beach
$1,800.00

Notes to Basquiat - Primal by Gordon Bennett
Notes to Basquiat - Primal - 2002
Gordon Bennett 4

38 x 53.5 cm
#14837 LOCATION: Bondi Beach
$1,500.00

Notes to Basquiat - Animism by Gordon Bennett
Notes to Basquiat - Animism - 2002
Gordon Bennett 4

38 x 53.5 cm
#14838 LOCATION: Bondi Beach
$1,500.00

Notes to Basquiat - Prayer by Gordon Bennett
Notes to Basquiat - Prayer - 2002
Gordon Bennett 4

38 x 53.5 cm
#14839
SOLD

Notes to Basquiat - High Moral Ground by Gordon Bennett
Notes to Basquiat - High Moral Ground - 2002
Gordon Bennett 4

38 x 53.5 cm
#14840 LOCATION: Bondi Beach
$1,500.00

Notes to Basquiat - Big Shoes by Gordon Bennett
Notes to Basquiat - Big Shoes - 2002
Gordon Bennett 4

38 x 53.5 cm
#14841 LOCATION: Bondi Beach
$1,500.00

Judgement by his Peers (Artist proof print) AP by Gordon Syron
Judgement by his Peers (Artist proof print) AP -
Gordon Syron 39

108 x 82 cm
#15500 LOCATION: Bondi Beach
$1,500.00

Endeavour Hull by Arone Raymond Meeks
Endeavour Hull - 2017
Arone Raymond Meeks 12

69 x 54 cm
#15519
SOLD

Re-clothed by Helen S Tiernan
Re-clothed - 2014
Helen S Tiernan 11

102 x 40 cm
#13534
SOLD

The Poisoning of the Waterholes of Australia by Gordon Syron
The Poisoning of the Waterholes of Australia - 2008
Gordon Syron 39

30 x 41 cm
#11229 LOCATION: Bondi Beach
$1,200.00

Bury the Living 2/30 by Gordon Syron
Bury the Living 2/30 - 1993
Gordon Syron 39

58.0 x 76.0 cm
#137 LOCATION: Bondi Beach
$1,200.00

by Jacob Stengle
- 2015
Jacob Stengle 27

46 x 46 cm
#15117 LOCATION: Bondi Beach
$1,200.00

by Jacob Stengle
- 2015
Jacob Stengle 27

46 x 46 cm
#15122 LOCATION: Bondi Beach
$1,200.00

by Jacob Stengle
- 2015
Jacob Stengle 27

46 x 46 cm
#15124 LOCATION: Bondi Beach
$1,200.00

Colonising Species 12/50 by Kevin Gilbert
Colonising Species 12/50 - 1989
Kevin Gilbert 1

71 x 53 cm
#16839 LOCATION: Bondi Beach
$1,200.00

My Fathers Studio 1965 29/50 by Kevin Gilbert
My Fathers Studio 1965 29/50 - 1992
Kevin Gilbert 1

55 x 49 cm
#16840
SOLD

Carpentaria (Brumby) 1/9 by Ian Waldron
Carpentaria (Brumby) 1/9 - 2017
Ian Waldron 10

55 x 79 cm
#16789 LOCATION: Bondi Beach
$1,100.00

Carpentaria (Seven Horsemen) 1/9 by Ian Waldron
Carpentaria (Seven Horsemen) 1/9 - 2017
Ian Waldron 10

55 x 79 cm
#16790 LOCATION: Bondi Beach
$1,100.00

Carpentaria (Uncle Sandy) 55/79 by Ian Waldron
Carpentaria (Uncle Sandy) 55/79 - 2017
Ian Waldron 10

55 x 79 cm
#16792 LOCATION: Bondi Beach
$1,100.00

Carpentaria (Yattamenn) 1/9 by Ian Waldron
Carpentaria (Yattamenn) 1/9 - 2017
Ian Waldron 10

55 x 79 cm
#16793 LOCATION: Bondi Beach
$1,100.00

The Gulf (Billy Tea) by Ian Waldron
The Gulf (Billy Tea) - 2017
Ian Waldron 10

72 x 59 cm
#16794 LOCATION: Bondi Beach
$1,100.00

The Gulf (CSR Sugar) by Ian Waldron
The Gulf (CSR Sugar) - 2017
Ian Waldron 10

72 x 59 cm
#16795 LOCATION: Bondi Beach
$1,100.00

The Gulf (Harpers Flour) by Ian Waldron
The Gulf (Harpers Flour) - 2017
Ian Waldron 10

72 x 59 cm
#16796 LOCATION: Bondi Beach
$1,100.00

Cocktail Party 27/30 by Karen Casey
Cocktail Party 27/30 - 1990
Karen Casey 1

40.0 x 55.0 cm
#2266 LOCATION: Bondi Beach
$900.00

Captain James Cook /40 by Jason Wing
Captain James Cook /40 -
Jason Wing

42 x 60 cm
#16841
SOLD

Shot in the Dark! 9/40 by Arone Raymond Meeks
Shot in the Dark! 9/40 - 1990
Arone Raymond Meeks 12

61 x 50 cm
#2724 LOCATION: Bondi Beach
$750.00

Australian’s for Riffles and Grenades 1918 in France by Gordon Syron
Australian’s for Riffles and Grenades 1918 in France - 2010
Gordon Syron 39

26 x 26 cm
#11228 LOCATION: Bondi Beach
$600.00

Untitled, Trial Proof TP/ by Arone Raymond Meeks
Untitled, Trial Proof TP/ - 2001
Arone Raymond Meeks 12

54 x 71 cm
#2721 LOCATION: Bondi Beach
$600.00

Imprisoned Spirit 5/15 by Donna Leslie
Imprisoned Spirit 5/15
Donna Leslie 1

70.0 x 49.0 cm
#302 LOCATION: Bondi Beach
$600.00

Flooded Gum, Katarapko Creek, Murray River National Park, 12/100 by Nici Cumpston
Flooded Gum, Katarapko Creek, Murray River National Park, 12/100 - 2006
Nici Cumpston 1

H14 x W38 cm
#7053 LOCATION: Bondi Beach
$600.00

Seaweed Mob by Blak Douglas
Seaweed Mob - 2018
Blak Douglas 6

0.0 x 0.0 cm
#16748
SOLD

Fetish (Yellow) /AP by Arone Raymond Meeks
Fetish (Yellow) /AP - 1999
Arone Raymond Meeks 12

45 x 150 cm
#1885 LOCATION: Bondi Beach
$500.00

Wait a While by Jose Ellen
Wait a While - 1992
Jose Ellen

81 x 65 cm
#8026
SOLD

The Flood by Trevor Nickolls
The Flood - 1994
Trevor Nickolls 1

61.0 x 46.0 cm
#16082
SOLD

Finny Practicing for the Charge by Jacob Stengle
Finny Practicing for the Charge - 2018
Jacob Stengle 27

91 x 121 cm
#16641
$POA

Cuttting the feet off 1900 3/10 by Paul Bong - Bindur Bullin
Cuttting the feet off 1900 3/10 - 2016
Paul Bong - Bindur Bullin 1

68 x 121 cm
#16835
SOLD

We’re Not (Dutch) by Richard Bell
We’re Not (Dutch) - 1993
Richard Bell

30 x 23cm
#1964
SOLD

We’re Not (Italian) by Richard Bell
We’re Not (Italian) - 1993
Richard Bell

30 x 23cm
#1965
SOLD