Michael Cook, Uninhabited
An exhibition of two recent works: 'Undiscovered' and
'Broken Dreams'—each of which comprises ten large
photographs that illustrate narratives about historic
and contemporary relations between non-Indigenous
and Indigenous.
This month Queensland Aboriginal artist Michael Cook will hold an
exhibition of two recent works: 'Undiscovered' and 'Broken
Dreams' at Andrew Baker Art Dealer in Brisbane. Both works
consist of ten large photographs, illustrating narratives that speak
about historic and contemporary relations between non-Indigenous
and Indigenous Australians.
Michael Cook is a rarity in the art world, a previously unknown but
fully-formed artist, who is quickly emerging with the talent, skills
and ideas to create exciting and original works of art. From his first
exhibition, 'Through My Eyes', held in 2010 at Andrew Baker Art
Dealer, Michael Cook’s works were acquired by the National
Gallery of Australia and many private collections.
Cook has been engaged with photography for over twenty-five
years, as a freelance commercial photographer, and now feels
"that each step in my career has lead to the projects that I am now
creating." Of these works of art, he said "This is the important
work—it will live on when I am gone."
The artist explains, "When I produce art I feel a stronger
connection with my ancestry. This helps me to understand
Australian history—in particular, my history. Each new project
introduces me to different communities and people, and I get to
learn a little about their life experiences. Through this process
each project moulds its own shape to produce a result. Because I
am constantly learning, my aim is for the work to grow in depth.
Hopefully, it will have an effect on people in a way that can only be
experienced through art."
Recently, Michael was selected as a finalist in the '2011 Western
Australian Indigenous Art Awards', which will be held at the Art
Gallery of Western Australia later this year. In 2010, he was a
finalist in the '15th Redlands Westpac Art Prize' at Mosman Art
Gallery in Sydney, and in 2008 Cook won the well-respected
‘Visual Artist of the Year’ award at the Deadly Awards.
'Undiscovered' reflects upon the occupation of Australia by Great
Britain. Featuring a striking model, endemic Australian animals and
quirky objects, the photographs are set against a mysterious grey
seascape. The moment of James Cook’s sighting of Point Hicks on
19 April 1770 has been presented in history as the 'discovery' of
Australia, despite the fact that Aboriginal people had been living on
this continent for tens of thousands of years. Subsequent British
settlers saw Aborigines as inferior people with no education or
organisation; their knowledge and experience of the land was
ignored. Undiscovered re-examines the history through a peculiar
and fresh perspective.
'Broken Dreams' illustrates a dream-like story of a journey from
England to Australia seen through the mind of a young Aboriginal
woman. With London’s distinctive skyline setting the scene of the
first images, the girl’s imagination is at its most vivid after seeing
European women for the first time. During the journey, the dream
is slowly replaced with reality. At the beginning of the journey, the
subject is dressed in a British manner, but becomes more ‘native’
as the work progresses, as does her growing awareness of her
own culture and history.
Andrew Baker Art Dealer, 26 Brookes Street, Bowen Hills Qld
4006, 07 3252 2292, info@andrew-baker.com