Don’t miss the opportunity to see the work of leading Australian Indigenous artist photographer Michael Cook at the October Gallery in London from 1 Nov to 1 Dec 2012.
Ken Smith, the Agent General for Queensland, opened the exhibition with an eloquent interpretation of Cook’s work, from hand written notes. His heartfelt acknowledgement of the ongoing social, political and cultural conditions for Australia’s First People resonated around the room and supported he ethereal photographic images Michael Cook has created.
Cook’s visual narrative ‘Broken Dreams’ contributes to the debate about the colonial project and brings Londoners face to face with issues produced by the invasion of Australia and denial of all rights, and existence of the Indigenous people. Through a sequence of beautifully constructed layered photographs Cook encourages us to take an imaginary journey with the protagonist as she dreams of what the coloniser’s world may be like. We follow her from ‘England’ back to her own country as her sense of self is reconnected to her Australia, and the Indigenous experience of colonisation.
In conversation people noted an unchanging facial stare in the face of the model throughout the series. Although Cook says he endeavoured to keep the look consistent, still, and without attitude there is a clear change in her face from the first look of enquiry to one of almost angry defiance. Learning that the model is in fact a Haulpak driver makes her presence even stronger.
If you are interested in how Australian artists are re-visioning the British colonisation of their country make a visit to see Daniel Boyd‘s commission on display at London’s Natural History Museum in the Nature Gallery.