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| Installation shot of ‘You’d believe me if I was a White Man’, Milani Gallery, 2011, http://www.milanigallery.com.au/artwork/installation-view-178 |
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| Installation shot of ‘You’d believe me if I was a White Man’, Milani Gallery, 2011, http://www.milanigallery.com.au/artwork/installation-view-178 |
Each work in the main gallery of Milani is a continuation of Bell’s Theorem (2), which asserts that Aboriginal Art has been reduced to a white Australian commodity. First unleashed on the art world in 2002 as a written work of art, Bell’s Theorem has continued to inspire and be represented in many of his incredibly loud paintings. The most well-known of these works is undoubtedly Scientia E Metaphysica (Bell’s Theorem) of 2003 which proclaims ‘Aboriginal Art Its A White Thing’. Another equally bold statement found in Bell’s current exhibition that appears to both endorse and disprove his 2003 proclamation is ‘Western Art Does Not Exist’ in Prelude to a Trial (Bell's Theorem).
While Bell’s 2003 work declares that Aboriginal Art is overpowered by western civilization, his 2011 work appears to denounce the existence of such a power. How can Aboriginal Art be a white (western) thing if Western Art does not exist? Could it be that Bell is further proving through Prelude to a Trial (Bell's Theorem) that western (white) civilization has monopolized and plagiarized not just Aboriginal Art but the art of other civilizations to create its own? To the point that there is no such thing as original western art. The greatest example of this is Picasso’s use of what were at the time considered primitive pacific curiosities to create Cubism, one of Western Art’s most famous movements. Closer to home, famous Australian artist Immants Tillers continues to appropriate and misrepresent Aboriginal Art in his own work. Indeed, the art of other civilizations has only recently been acknowledged as worthy of being placed in art institutions which still predominately house and celebrate ‘western art’.
With this in mind, one can be in no doubt that Bell is still championing for equality and recognition of Aboriginal Australian Art and will continue to produce his incredibly loud paintings to represent voices unheard and challenge society’s complacent acceptance and stereotyping of art. “You would believe me if I was a white man” while both a taunt and a challenge, is also the title of Bell’s most exciting body of work to date.
While Bell’s 2003 work declares that Aboriginal Art is overpowered by western civilization, his 2011 work appears to denounce the existence of such a power. How can Aboriginal Art be a white (western) thing if Western Art does not exist? Could it be that Bell is further proving through Prelude to a Trial (Bell's Theorem) that western (white) civilization has monopolized and plagiarized not just Aboriginal Art but the art of other civilizations to create its own? To the point that there is no such thing as original western art. The greatest example of this is Picasso’s use of what were at the time considered primitive pacific curiosities to create Cubism, one of Western Art’s most famous movements. Closer to home, famous Australian artist Immants Tillers continues to appropriate and misrepresent Aboriginal Art in his own work. Indeed, the art of other civilizations has only recently been acknowledged as worthy of being placed in art institutions which still predominately house and celebrate ‘western art’.
With this in mind, one can be in no doubt that Bell is still championing for equality and recognition of Aboriginal Australian Art and will continue to produce his incredibly loud paintings to represent voices unheard and challenge society’s complacent acceptance and stereotyping of art. “You would believe me if I was a white man” while both a taunt and a challenge, is also the title of Bell’s most exciting body of work to date.
By Jessica Row
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(1) Said in a talk to students from Queensland College of Art at Milani Gallery on 5th August, 2011 (2) Bell’s Theorem can be read here: http://www.kooriweb.org/foley/great/art/bell.html
‘You'd believe me if I was a white man’ exhibited at Milani Gallery, Brisbane, Australia from 22nd July 2011 to 6th August 2011 and can be viewed online here: http://www.milanigallery.com.au/exhibit/youd-believe-me-if-i-was-white-man
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