Those Monuments Don’t Know Us, a new exhibition at Bundoora Homestead Art Centre, pushes the limits of Australia’s current political and cultural landscape.
Engaging in conversation with a colonial history that defines Australia – exemplified by the opulent British architecture of Bundoora Homestead – the works of these artists provoke questions about who we are and where we are going. By turns powerful, poetic and irreverent, the artists in the exhibition speak to the social, cultural and political structures that continue to shape national discourse. Much of the work touches on – among other things – the deep issues around culture, racism and power that still define us.
Curator Andy Butler says:
“At a time of increased tension in our political sphere, these high calibre artists offer nuanced and considered perspectives on the history and contemporary reality of racialised exclusion and power that has defined Australian society and our broader region. The artists included in this exhibition make work that tackles complex issues in a way that is accessible and engaging.”
The exhibition features recent works and new commissions from artists who bring diverse perspectives and cultural narratives to notions of ‘belonging’ in Australia. The exhibiting artists include Khadim Ali, Timmah Ball, Hayley Millar-Baker, Phuong Ngo, James Nguyen, Nabilah Nordin, Diego Ramirez, Priya Srinivasan, TextaQueen and Siying Zhou.
An opening event will be held on Saturday 16 March at 2:00pm with guest speaker Kelly Gellatly, Director, Ian Potter Museum of Art, University of Melbourne.
An artist/curator talk will be held on Saturday 13 April at 1pm, followed by a panel discussion, Whiteness and its Power: Beyond Diversity, at 2pm.
The works will span gallery spaces throughout Bundoora Homestead, and include installation, video, textiles, performance, photography, sculpture and works on paper.
Those Monuments Don’t Know Us will run from 9 March to 5 May 2019.
Microsoft Word – Media Release – Those Monuments Don’t Know Us (1).docx
Bundoora Homestead Art Centre is the public art gallery for the City of Darebin and is committed to presenting challenging and inspiring contemporary visual arts exhibitions and public programs. The Homestead was built in 1900 and is registered by Heritage Victoria and certified by the National Trust.
