Keeping a place in our art

Australian Aboriginal Artist Gordon Syron and wife Elaine have continued in their custodianship of ‘The Keeping Place collection at the Old Rail Shed at Redfern. This despite issues detailed in past editions of City News involving an increasingly unsympathetic Redfern Waterloo Authority.

Curator Sheryl Connors has selected 23 items for the exhibition, including artists such as Clifford Possum and Bronwyn Bancroft for the Australian Museum’s “Keeping Place” exhibition set to run until August 22.

Sheryl said the works have something important to offer to the public and may not be seen together again after the exhibit.

“[These works] come from all over Australia, some historic styles we will not see again, putting across a meaning with the artists speaking for themselves,” she said.

The exhibition was opened earlier this month by former High Court Judge, Michael Kirby. Mr Kirby has stated he will take one of Gordon’s paintings as a gift to the Queen.

Mr Kirby said he appreciates Gordon’s trademark use of blue in his paintings. He said he recognises three distinct styles of painting by Gordon. Firstly his portraits of people. Secondly there are the political works.

Gordon’s most famous work however is his “Judgement by his peers”, showing a white man in the dock in a court surrounded by aborigines. Mr Kirby said it drove a great point home about what it’s like to be an aboriginal in our justice system.

Speaking about his work Gordon stressed the importance of the exhibition to Indigenous art in Sydney.

“Australian Aborigines have never really had control of their own culture. I hope we can turn that
around, and this exhibit is an important step,” he said.

Mr Kirby concluded the meeting by stressing hope and the importance of looking forwards with his recital of the poem “Song of Hope” by Aboriginal poet Kath Walker.

By John August