A timely exhibition in Tasmania
"Tourist Tat and other problematic, tokenistic spotty meanderings"
Art Mob’s response to UK criticism of the Australian Landscapes exhibition at the Royal Academy, London
To be opened by Jeremy Eccles.
"Art Mob responds to the UK art critics' outbursts regarding the Australia exhibition hosted by the Royal Academy of Arts in London from September to December 2013.
The Sunday Times actually printed these comments from Waldemar Januszczak, "But Januszczak finds the inclusion of Aboriginal artists in the show problematic and tokenistic, lamenting that out of a tremendous indigenous tradition, inspired by an enormous natural landscape, our art world has managed to create what amounts to a market in decorative rugs".
"Opening the show with a selection of these spotty meanderings, and discussing them in dramatically hallowed terms, cannot disguise the fact that in most cases the great art of the aborigines has been turned into tourist tat."
On reading such outspoken criticism, Art Mob's Euan Hills was sufficiently aggravated to show the world that such problematic, tokenistic spotty meanderings need to be exhibited back in Australia for all to make their own conclusions.
The Exhibition starts with a 2x3m decorator rug - Minnie Pwerle's Celebration from Designer Rugs - and continues with works by similar artists shown at RA and concludes with some of Art Mob's own selection of works right out of the "tourist tat" league.
Famed Torres Strait islander Dennis Nona's massive Mutuk etching features alongside of two barks by John Mawurndjul. A large ochre painting of the Holy Spirit Corroboree by the late Queenie McKenzie sits alongside of two colour field abstractions by Sally Gabori. The Emily Kame Kngwarreye's don't hang above the door.
This is an exhibition that expresses the diversity and strength of Australia's indigenous artistry in defiance of waffle from the colonial headquarters".
Exhibition opening: 6pm, Friday 10 January 2014
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