Looking Glass: Judy Watson and Yhonnie Scarce

Looking Glass: Judy Watson and Yhonnie Scarce

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Posted 2022-03-28 by Alison Muirheadfollow

Fri 18 Mar 2022 - Sun 19 Jun 2022



A looking glass allows us to see our reflection. This exhibition currently in the QUT Museum of Art by Judy Watson and Yhonnie Scarce allows us to reflect on over two centuries of the degradation of Aboriginal life and culture through the eyes of two of its people. Looking Glass is the antithesis of Dorothea Mackellar's patriotic jingle, "My Country". There are so many interwoven layers to this exhibition, I challenge you to untangle each of them.



There has been an awakening to the plight of the people who have inhabited this country for over 60,000 years. ABC TV production, "Operation Buffalo", brought uncomfortable truths of the Maralinga tragedy to the forefront of previously unknowing minds. It was an ignorance that prevailed because, for many years, schoolchildren were told the feel-good stories of our indigenous nation. Singer-songwriter, William Crighton, of Scottish ancestry, has sat down with the Wiradjery people while living on the Murrumbidgee River and listened to stories of their connections with the land. His latest album, "Water And Dust", reflects his burning passion to make music with a deeper understanding of Australian history and First Nations people.



We have songs and we have TV drama productions, we have Kevin Rudd's apology, but still, we trample the sacred places of our First Nations people. Currently, elders in the Hunter Valley are protesting about a road to be built on sacred land. And then there is the denial of climate change which means the land on which both black and white live is being destroyed. This exhibition is a reflection of what has been and what is to come. Both black and white lives are now inextricably interwoven. The exhibition is both important and timely.



Judy Watson's "spot fires" was composed during the recent bush fire catastrophe. It is representative of the necessity to rapidly acknowledge the existence of climate change, and the hollow talk at the time of researching the indigenous practice of using fire in husbanding the land. Now that emergency has been superseded by disease and flooding, there has subsequently been little mention of such research.


The linking of her two ancient indigenous and European heritages is illustrated in Judy's works such as "standing stones with sutures on indigo". This group stitched project refers to the repairing of past wounds. In "standing stone, kangaroo grass, bush string 2020", barely visible words refer to water as it was used in dispossessing and massacring Aboriginal people. Industry and climate change are now ruining the life-giving river systems.







Yhonnie Scarce's glasswork in "Hollowing Earth" reflects the sickness of people and the planet brought about by mining ventures, particularly uranium mining. This is echoed in other works, especially as it impacts children. Scarce's affinity with family history leads her to illustrate the smashing of family ties by colonisation practices and disease. Deformed bush foods made from uranium glass are metaphors for this catastrophe.







All the exhibits are well labelled so you will be in no doubt as to the artist's intentions. Some have suggested activities for children which encourages families to attend. Further information can be found on the QUT website. An interview with Judy Watson by Daniel Browning, Editor of the ABC's Indigenous Radio, will be held at the Museum of Art on Friday April 8 at 1pm. Registration is required.



#aboriginal
#art
#brisbane_city
#child_friendly
#exhibitions
#family_attractions
#free
#galleries
#museums
#march
#april
#may
#june
!date 18/03/2022 -- 19/06/2022
%wnbrisbane
161972 - 2023-06-14 20:05:51

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