In celebration of its 60th anniversary, the Australian Design Centre presents Current: Gail Mabo, Lisa Waup and Dominic White. The exhibition will run from August 2nd to September 25th, 2024, and comprises the work of three prominent First Nations artists whose practices are deeply rooted in their cultural heritage and connection to the Australian landscape.
Current examines the interplay between land, water and ancestral memory as seen through the works of the respective artists. Their multi-disciplinary approaches highlight the enduring relationship between people and place, traversing from the Torres Strait to Tasmania.
Originally exhibited at McClelland Sculpture Park & Gallery, Current now sets off on a national tour. The project is supported by the Australian Government’s Visions of Australia program, the Besen Family Foundation and the Gordon Darling Foundation. “It is a great privilege to present this exhibition as part of its national tour. The works of each individual artist are so strong and personal, and together they draw out and emphasise so many themes and connections – honouring the people and culture who have been here since the beginning while calling out ongoing contemporary issues for First Nations people in Australia,” says Lisa Cahill, Director of Australian Design Centre CEO.
Gail Mabo (Meriam) presents Ma’rap Sau, an evocative multisensory installation combining sculpture and video. This body of work expands on her previous explorations of bamboo tagai (star maps) and architectural representations of her childhood home. Mabo’s installation creates an immersive environment that celebrates her ancestral ties to Mer (Murray Island) and reflects on her father Eddie ‘Koiki’ Mabo’s pivotal role in advancing native title rights. “For me, Current is the calling of the wind. So, when the wind blows through the bamboo we hear the voices of our forebears who still guide us and protect us, giving us a sense of knowing where we come from and how we need to look after and maintain a connection to that place,” explains Mabo.
Lisa Waup (Gunditjmara/Torres Strait Islands) contributes to her installation holding Country, recently acquired by the University of Melbourne. Waup’s oeuvre pays homage to her profound connection to her cultural heritage. “I am extremely proud of the holding Country series which has been a long time in the making,” says Waup. “The reflective ink on the bags illuminates when you shine light on them, and the process offers a reciprocal gaze – you can see them, and they can see you. Conceptually, this industrial material becomes a way of reflecting on the historical and ongoing injustices imposed on First Nations people since the colonial invasion.”
The artworks by Dominic White (Palawa/Trawlwoolway) explore the conceptual and formal aspects of vessels such. The artwork House Nailed Country Coolamon, ornamented with bronze Monopoly houses, critiques the overwhelming impact of urban development on the landscape. White explains: “A Coolamon is a place where you raise your family, for carrying the things you need with you. It’s an open vessel, things flow through it, not just remaining in it.” His exploration extends to materials like kelp and metal, reflecting on historical themes of violence and dispossession within his community.
