Inaugural Indigenous Artist in Residence Connects Art and Culture

Published Monday, 11 May, 2015 at 06:26 PM

Minister for Housing and Public Works and Minister for Science and Innovation
The Honourable Leeanne Enoch

A nationally celebrated Mackay-born artist has been named as the inaugural recipient of Queensland’s kuril dhagun Indigenous Artist in Residence program.

Minister for Science and Innovation Leeanne Enoch congratulated Boneta-Marie Mabo as the inaugural recipient of State Library’s new residency, as part of the kuril dhagun community program. Miss Mabo will begin the residency in July.

“This residency forms part of State Library’s ongoing commitment to programs for, with, and by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities,” Minister Enoch said.

“The program gives Queensland’s Indigenous artists a unique opportunity to connect their personal cultural knowledge and artistic practice with State Library’s collections and original materials.”

During her three-month residency, Miss Mabo will work with State Library collection items and kuril dhagun staff to develop a new body of artwork for the kuril dhagun exhibition space, formulating a creative project around the theme ‘unsettled’.

The descendant of Native Title campaigner Eddie ‘Koiki’ Mabo, Miss Mabo is a contemporary visual artist, working predominantly with oil paint to create works that focus on controversial themes.

Her artworks explore social, political and cultural issues that both directly and indirectly affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children.

“During my residency I intend to research the way Aboriginal people, more specifically, Aboriginal women, have experienced censorship through historical and continued imposition of non-Indigenous systems and institutions,” Miss Mabo said.

“I want to focus on our nation’s historical events that are commonly viewed as exclusively ‘Aboriginal history’, but still have an effect on our broader society today.

“I would like to create a work that expresses the seriousness and long-lasting impact of historical atrocities, and brings them into the consciousness of mainstream society.” 

Visitors to State Library will be able to observe and engage with Miss Mabo in her temporary studio in kuril dhagun on level 1 of the State Library building at South Bank from 6 July to 2 October. She will also host a portrait drawing workshop at State Library as part of her residency. At the end of the residency, Miss Mabo’s work will be on display in kuril dhagun’s exhibition space.

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Media contacts: Tim Shipstone - 3719 7281, 0419 246 157