New book chronicles contemporary Indigenous art

A new book will be launched this evening to accompany a major exhibition of contemporary Aboriginal art opening at UQ this weekend.

Published by the University of Queensland Press, Our Way: Contemporary Aboriginal Art From Lockhart River will be launched by Acting Premier Anna Bligh at a 6.30pm reception at the James and Mary Emelia Mayne Centre.

The book is written by Dr Sally Butler, curator for the Our Way exhibition and a UQ lecturer who has spent more than a decade working with a group of young artists from far north Queensland.

Formerly known as the Art Gang, they include Rosella Namok, Fiona Omeenyo and Samantha Hobson – painters who have gained international recognition while still in their 20’s.

The book surveys the Lockhart River art scene through hundreds of photographs of the works themselves and the remote community which inspired them.

Dr Butler said the work was unique because each artist had developed a distinctive style, allowing them to express traditional stories in new ways.

“I think it’s something that is very much an expression of young Aboriginality, where they have to live as individuals and as community members at once in this world and that comes through in their art,” Dr Butler said.

“Their contemporary art is a spectacular example of the diverse ways that Australian Indigenous people keep the Dreaming alive.”

The exhibition is open free to the public from tomorrow until July 1, with an international tour beginning in August.

“The exhibition and book just tells their story,” Dr Butler said.

“It’s insipirational that Aboriginal youth are taking the lead like this, they’ve taken on the professional side of the art world extremely well.”

Our Way: Contemporary Aboriginal Art from Lockhart River will be available for purchase at the gallery during the exhibition and from the UQ bookshop.

Media: Dr Butler (3365 3037, sallybutler@uq.edu.au) or Cameron Pegg at UQ Communications (07 3365 2049, c.pegg@uq.edu.au)