Flora & Fauna
Flora & Fauna discusses the misconceptions of the 1967 Australian Referendum that saw the inclusion of Aboriginal people into the Australian Census.
During the year of 1967, my mother was four-years old, and her mother 25-years-old. Both would not have been included as an Australian citizen until the 1967 Australian Referendum.
The 1967 Referendum was an Australian historic event that saw over 90% of Australians voting in favour of amending two of the Australian Constitution sections: Section 51 (xxvi) the abolishment of special laws for Aboriginal people, and Section 127 ‘Aboriginal natives’ to be counted in the Commonwealth Census.1 Before the 1967 Referendum change, my family had not considered to be citizens of the very country they had occupied for over 70,000 years.
The use of Australian native flowers as a coat to silence identity ultimately reduces and dehumanises the Aboriginal characters within these photographs.
What would seem like ‘normal’ family snapshots, are now subjected to forced loss of identity and the audience is left wondering ‘who are these people?’ and ‘why can’t they own their identity?’
Flora & Fauna discusses the misconceptions of the 1967 Australian Referendum that saw the inclusion of Aboriginal people into the Australian Census.
During the year of 1967, my mother was four-years old, and her mother 25-years-old. Both would not have been included as an Australian citizen until the 1967 Australian Referendum.
The 1967 Referendum was an Australian historic event that saw over 90% of Australians voting in favour of amending two of the Australian Constitution sections: Section 51 (xxvi) the abolishment of special laws for Aboriginal people, and Section 127 ‘Aboriginal natives’ to be counted in the Commonwealth Census.1 Before the 1967 Referendum change, my family had not considered to be citizens of the very country they had occupied for over 70,000 years.
The use of Australian native flowers as a coat to silence identity ultimately reduces and dehumanises the Aboriginal characters within these photographs.
What would seem like ‘normal’ family snapshots, are now subjected to forced loss of identity and the audience is left wondering ‘who are these people?’ and ‘why can’t they own their identity?’
Untitled 1 (Flora & Fauna), 2016, 58.4 x 42 cm, inkjet on cotton rag.
Edition of 5 (+1 AP)
Untitled 2 (Flora & Fauna), 2016, 58.4 x 42 cm, inkjet on cotton rag.
Edition of 5 (+1 AP)
Untitled 3 (Flora & Fauna), 2016, 58.4 x 42 cm, inkjet on cotton rag.
Edition of 5 (+1 AP)