The subtitle of the exhibition When the Sky Fell is Legacies of the 1967 Referendum. Prior to the opening night at PICA I didn’t having a strong understanding of the Referendum, afterwards I can say that my eyes have been opened a little further. Still I do not profess to knowing enough about the impact to comment. What I can comment on though is the utterly unique art on display.
When The Sky Fell © The Ponder Room
First was the work by Mervyn Street (shown above). Seated just inside the gallery Mervyn dragged a fine paintbrush through a layer of sand. Just as I was taking in the final product he waved a larger paintbrush through his work and it was gone, he was onto another one. Every now and then he threw on some more sand. It was fascinating watching these simple pictures appear only to be captured by a mobile phone that was hanging over them, and be beamed out to the public via the large screens in the Northbridge Piazza. A wonderful marriage of heritage skills and modern technology.
When The Sky Fell © The Ponder Room
The images also make up a video situated on the floor in one gallery room. Having the screen on the floor was an excellent idea. It feels like you’re looking at pictures being drawn on the ground. Here’s a link to the video, hopefully it works – click the link below. If it doesn’t I’ll be adding it to my YouTube channel soon.
When the sky fell sand drawing
The exhibition includes work from a diverse range of indigenous W.A artists, for example pictures on saddles …
When The Sky Fell © The Ponder Room
When The Sky Fell © The Ponder Room
on satellite dishes …
When The Sky Fell © The Ponder Room
plus …
When The Sky Fell © The Ponder Room
And a dress make out of flour bags as a reminder that they used to get paid in rations.
When The Sky Fell © The Ponder Room
The opening celebration included a traditional Indigenous dance performance from Moorditj Moort dancers …
When The Sky Fell © The Ponder Room
a few words from some of the artists …
When The Sky Fell © The Ponder Room
When The Sky Fell © The Ponder Room
and some from the Minister who outlined the importance of Indigenous communities in WA’s future.
When The Sky Fell © The Ponder Room
Aside from paintings on canvas there is a large image which has been painted directly onto the wall.
When The Sky Fell © The Ponder Room
The exhibition is presented in partnership with the Aboriginal Arts Centre Hub of WA.
When The Sky Fell © The Ponder Room
As I watched the large crowd taking in the wide range of art I pondered:
- Watching Mervyn brush away each image reminded me of the Buddhist mandalas I’d seen in Melbourne. Another reminder that life is fleeting and we should get on with it;
- Also fleeting is the large wall painting by Mervyn Streets which will go once the exhibition finishes, so make sure you get to see it.
- It’s a stunning looking exhibition, congratulations to all who put this together and thank you to the artists.
When The Sky Fell runs from 2 July – 20 August at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts.
For more information go to PICA.
