Penny Evans :: Death to a Stereotype
17 Mar - 15 Apr 2018
Gallery 5
Opening Friday 16 March 2018 at 5.30pm
Death to a Stereotype incorporates cast kitsch objects refashioned in clay and attached to carved coolamons and shield forms. They are adorned with emu feathers, echidna quill and plastic flowers. An installation of ceramic Dhinawan gawu (emu eggs), thunder eggs and estuarine creatures is strewn on the ground like sperma/egg/volcanic matter. The exterior of the eggs are heavily carved with concentric diamond patterns and other linear/lineal patterning’s. The inside of the eggs are filled with red and orange pooling glazes like rich yokes representing the fecund nature of our Aboriginal cultures. Resilient. Resurgent. Rebirthing.
The installation engages with the Indigenous mourning and mortuary associations of the diamond symbols to put the stereotypes to bed whilst simultaneously celebrating our cultural reawakening and the renaissance of the South-Eastern Australian ancient cultures. This installation is active and reflective of deep personal processes.
