Typically the Aboriginal artist adopts a viewpoint which elevates the mind’s eye to a broader panoramic view - a bird’s eye view approach called “spirit perspective”. Such an aerial view involves a marvelous look; a look that does not take but receives in the mansion of the mind…the only sustainable viewpoint.
In response to Dr. Pamela Croft’s textured visual narrative workshop at TAFTA, Brisbane, June 2007, this artwork features two masks. The two masks are about differing perspectives or viewpoints (both ways of seeing). The “ochre eyes” mask represents the indigenous “spirit perspective”, while the white “exploded”* mask represents the disintegrating power of the white (Western) gaze.
*The white mask ‘exploded’ during its hot pressed paper moulding process and so, rather than discard it because of its imperfection, I used it as it was. The words "Finally, like broken eggshell, the face of white mischief cracks...and falls away" were later added around the rim.
After a lifetime of looking at things solely through a white Western perspective your eyes get lost. Making this textured visual narrative was an eye-quest to find my way home. This 12 x 12 Composition in Mask is created from two Multimasks (premoulded recycled paper base masks), ethically-sourced Australian ochre, shoe polish, acrylic paints, recycled sari silk, stretched canvas frame, ripped brochure “Broken Links: the Stolen Generations in Queensland” decoupage.
In response to Dr. Pamela Croft’s textured visual narrative workshop at TAFTA, Brisbane, June 2007, this artwork features two masks. The two masks are about differing perspectives or viewpoints (both ways of seeing). The “ochre eyes” mask represents the indigenous “spirit perspective”, while the white “exploded”* mask represents the disintegrating power of the white (Western) gaze.
*The white mask ‘exploded’ during its hot pressed paper moulding process and so, rather than discard it because of its imperfection, I used it as it was. The words "Finally, like broken eggshell, the face of white mischief cracks...and falls away" were later added around the rim.
After a lifetime of looking at things solely through a white Western perspective your eyes get lost. Making this textured visual narrative was an eye-quest to find my way home. This 12 x 12 Composition in Mask is created from two Multimasks (premoulded recycled paper base masks), ethically-sourced Australian ochre, shoe polish, acrylic paints, recycled sari silk, stretched canvas frame, ripped brochure “Broken Links: the Stolen Generations in Queensland” decoupage.
