I found it interesting that Vernon Ah Kee didn't get taught how to draw, he learnt from Spider Man comics. This shows that the Aboriginal people can take things from their 'non traditional' culture, taking inspiration from other cultures and using it within their own culture. In turn 'White Australians' can learn from the Aboriginal people and their way of living and should consider why the Aboriginal People did particular things for a reason. Whilst watching Aboriginal History: Life stories and Aboriginal views, it suggested that "the Aboriginal People are the world’s best environmentalist as they didn’t destroy land unless they had too but they always regenerated and moved on. They also didn’t kill animals unless it was for food." (1) The Aboriginal People did this for a reason, to be honest I am not one hundred percent sure why but I am sure it has something to do with revitalising the land and respecting the land. 'White Australians' need to respect the land like the Aboriginal People.
Vernon Ah Kee begun drawing kevel images of his great grandpa from Psalm Island from 1938 which were a scientific record of the “dying species of sub humans.” (2) When Vernon Ah Kee spoke these words I was frozen in disbelief! I could not even comprehend referring about the Aboriginal people like this. I know the times have changed and there is much more respect for them as a culture but referring to them as a dying species - the only reason they were dying was because 'White Australians' were killing them off and the whites brought the diseases with them to Australia. As for 'sub humans' suggesting they are not even human so what are they then? Animals? Landscape? Aliens?
The above images were from Vernon Ah Kee's personal website. http://www.milanigallery.com.au/exhibit/what-aborigine
Particularly interesting in these photos were the intense gaze which profoundly affected Vernon Ah Kee. He wanted to represent those images and retain the gaze reflecting the endurance, persistence, intelligence, emotion, depth, deep thinking, and hunger which is not normally associated with the ‘black people’. He was trying to establish an idea of Aboriginal people that is contemporary and modern and stripped of the ‘romantic’ ideas around spirituality, virtues and the 'decorative stone age.' Vernon Ah Kee wanted to demonstrate that Aboriginal art is more than what we think it is and that Aboriginal People as a subject is more that what we think it is. “It’s a beautiful thing, so all these drawings need to be beautiful.” (3) And beautiful they are. Vernon Ah Kees attention to this detail of the 'gaze' he referred to is so precise and reflects exactly what he wanted to. Just by looking at these images you can see the emotion, persistence, depth, deep thinking, hunger etc. Vernon Ah Kee said “our stories are just as important as other stories” (4) and this is very true, why do 'White Australians' always cringe at the sound of Aboriginal stories and turn their nose up at them? Is it because they feel guilty for treating them so badly? And if they show any sympathy for the Aboriginal People they will be a lesser person, because in actual fact they will be a bigger, stronger person for challenging the stereotypical ideology 'white Australians' have towards the Aboriginal People. We should be embracing the history and heritage of our land and the Aboriginal People and their stories are exactly this.
“Is it an accident that the dealers, art advisers and people who have tricked the industry into thinking the way it does about Aboriginal People and Art, is it an accident that none of them are Aboriginal? Or is it a clever trick that the Aboriginal Art in this country have been separated from the people? Because this attitude towards Aboriginal people, who are lousy is the first impression people have on me, regardless of my artistic achievements but internationally that is not the perception I get.” (5)
Even though many Aboriginal people are successful, 'White Australians' will continuously represent them as the stereotypes they perceive them as. Why cant the 'white australians' look past this and see the Aboriginal People for who they are and not what they are reflected as?
(1) Dobis, John. Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC). Aboriginal History: Life Stories and Aboriginal Views, Produced by Sandra Fulloon. 24 min. 1995. DVD
(2)Akayan, Danielle. Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC). Message Stick: Born In This Skin, Produced by Douglas Watkin. 27 min. 19/04/2009. DVD
(3)Akayan, Danielle. Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC). Message Stick: Born In This Skin, Produced by Douglas Watkin. 27 min. 19/04/2009. DVD
(4)Akayan, Danielle. Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC). Message Stick: Born In This Skin, Produced by Douglas Watkin. 27 min. 19/04/2009. DVD
(5)Akayan, Danielle. Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC). Message Stick: Born In This Skin, Produced by Douglas Watkin. 27 min. 19/04/2009. DVD
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