Revealed Exhibition: New and Emerging WA Aboriginal Artists
Opening 4pm Thu 25 Mar | Free entry
Runs Fri 26 Mar – Sun 23 May
Revealed WA Aboriginal Art Market | Online Event
Mon 29 Mar – Thu 1 Apr
In spite of all the challenges of the past twelve months – major events cancelled, strict travel restrictions and art centre closures – WA’s Aboriginal artists continue to create an amazing array of quality artworks, and programs like Revealed, which connect these artists with new audiences, have never been more important.
Revealed celebrates the vitality and diversity of Aboriginal artistic practice in Western Australia through an exhibition, online art market and two days of professional development workshops specifically tailored for Aboriginal artists and Art Centre staff, presented by Fremantle Arts Centre.
The prestigious Revealed Exhibition presents the works of over 100 new and emerging WA Aboriginal Artists in 2021. There are more than 300 fresh, contemporary artworks spanning a huge range of styles and mediums including painting, installation, textiles, photography, print media, video, jewellery, carving and sculpture.
Bessie Daylight, Bat and Goanna Ngarranggarni (detail), 2020, ochre and acrylic on canvas, 70 x 50cm. Image courtesy the artist and Warmun Art Centre
In addition to 31 remote and regional Aboriginal Art Centres, this year’s Revealed features the highest number of independent artists in the program’s history, including artists from Broome, Derby, Wickham, Ngarluma (Roebourne), Wadandi (Bunbury & South West), Whadjuk (Perth metropolitan) and Wilman (Dwellingup) Country.
“Increasing participation for independent artists has been a major focus for this year’s Revealed,” says Fremantle Arts Centre Revealed Exhibition Coordinator Jane Chambers.
“Without the infrastructure of an arts centre to support them, it can be really difficult for independent artists to connect with audiences and find opportunities to pursue their creative practice. The strength and variety of their works add a different perspective to the exhibition, which we can’t wait to share.”
Chenise Cameron’s works stand out as one such perspective. The 16-year old emerging Wongatha photographer is still at high school but already her strikingly beautiful photographs of family, friends and the stunning Country near where she lives in Wickham are sure to make her an exhibition stand out.
Independent artist Amanda Bell, a Badimia and Yued woman, born on Whadjak country and raised on Wadandi land by the sea, returns for her second year in the Revealed Exhibition with an ambitious foray into a new medium. From our lips, mouth, throats and belly is a largescale glass and neon installation of her favourite Noongar word Moorditj! (meaning strong, good) which will beam across the gallery, simultaneously strong in impact and fragile in materiality.
“I had a vision of a beautiful Noongar word, as old as Boodja and as new as now, shining for all to see,” Amanda said. “I honour this word, this Country and our people.”
See the full list of artists participating in this year’s Revealed Exhibition.
All works in the Revealed Exhibition are for sale.
In addition to the Exhibition, the hugely popular Revealed WA Aboriginal Art Market, which was sadly cancelled in 2020, returns as an expanded online event in 2021.
Running for four days Monday 29 March – Thursday 1 April, an online event ensures the market can proceed and secure vital income for artists. It also means people living outside WA now have the chance to be part of the event and take home their very own Revealed artwork.
The Revealed Market is unique in that it’s the only event where Western Australian remote and regional art centres participate alongside several independent artists.
There will be a huge range of paintings, textiles, carved artefacts, homewares, prints, clothing, ceramics, jewellery and more available in a breadth of styles.
Artworks cost as little as $50 and 100% of profits raised from sales at the Revealed Market return to the artists and art centres.
Interested people may register for exclusive first access before sales open for the general public.
+ ALSO OPENING: STRAIGHT OUTTA WILURARRA
Opening alongside the Revealed Exhibition, Straight Outta Wilurarra makes a bold statement on the culture, style and unique voices of Western Desert people.
Travis Lane, Self-portrait, 2020, photographic print. Image courtesy Wilurarra Creative
Spanning music, fashion, design, writing and photography, Wilurarra Creative is an arts hub in the remote community of Mirlirrtjarra (Warburton) on the Ngaanyatjarra Lands, 900km north-west of Kalgoorlie. For the past 16 years Wilurarra Creative has supported Ngaanyatjarra young adults to explore and express personal and collective identity, capturing the songs, stories, styles, language, artwork and living creativity of contemporary Ngaanyatjarra culture.
The Wilurarra Creative hub will be recreated in one of FAC’s galleries with a photographic studio, selfie booth, hair salon and art works.
