I am a visual artist, from the Kabi Kabi Nation (Name for Indigenous people from the Sunshine Coast area), Born in Roma Western Qld. Studied a Bachelor of Arts Visual arts (Honours) at the Qld University of Technology.My work is nearly always pink, with the occasional variation of Hue or Medium, which consequently this has become a signature for my work. It is not just the colour pink alone that makes my work so unique, but rather my use of Humor and satire to critique issues of importance to me. My work draws inspiration from real life experience. Often many of my ideas being triggered by conversations I have with people and popular culture.My work is concerned with my individual identity as an indigenous Australian, as well as the identity of Australia as a nation in terms of its history and its concept of itself. My work is loaded with layers of meaning and numerous reference points. That is the commodification of Aboriginal Culture; the demarcation of Art, artifact and Kitsch; critique of the social and cultural structures; and the critique of the beauty and the feminine.Reflected through the eclectic structure of the work, and the apparent reference to the desert dot paintings of the central Australian desert artists, and the stenciling technique of the Arnhem Land cave painters, blended with references to the work of twentieth century artists such as Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Lin Onus, Rover Thomas and Andy Warhol. Through the embellishment of the surface of the work, I expressthrough candy pinks, fake fur and manmade frills the notion of artificiality. The work demands a constant process of the reinvention of self, place and time, as there is a cultural ambiguity surrounding the symbols used. The symbols function as vehicles for understanding the world, for reconstructing the ways in which cultures overlap, traditions are translated and meaning is recreated.In 1997 I was was selected for the Primavera exhibition at the MCA in Sydney. I also had work in “Black Humor†and “Saltwater, freshwater, Borewater†and "transvisual" national touring exhibitions. In April 1997 I won my first art award; The Anglican Church Grammar school Old Boys Association Encouragement award for artists under 25. As a member of the Campfire Group - Aboriginal artist's co-operation, I have had the opportunity to be involved in many projects based on cultural collaboration. Including “All Stock Must Go†which was a part of the 2nd Asia Pacific Triennial at the Queensland Art Gallery in 1996-97. I have had a number of solo exhibitions in regional Qld and Brisbane, and my work has been included in numerous group exhibitions through out Australia and Overseas. My work has been included is a number of festival such as the Livid Festival, Stage X, Woodford Folk festival and Dar. In 2002 I Received an Arts Qld Grant to produce and Exhibit a Body of Work in the 2002 Adelaide Fringe Festival. In that same year I was commissioned by Leah Purcell & QPAT to create an art work for the "Black Chic's Talking" project. More recently I had a solo exhibition touring around regional Qld through the Qld Arts Council titled “The other Arty Beetsonâ€. I have work in public and Private collections around Australian and Overseas including Art Bank,, QPAT and Qld Art Gallery. I am currently a member of proppaNOW aboriginal artists collective
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