ProppaNOW Aboriginal Artists Initiative in Aotearoa
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proppaNOW is a Brisbane-based Aboriginal artists initiative with a vision.
proppaNOW constantly produces innovative work with an approach that comes from urban expression and questions the position that is ascribed to Aboriginal people and culture within the Australian context.
proppaNOW is interested and proactive in creating dialogue and raising the profile of indigenous arts ..
proppaNOW is a Brisbane-based Aboriginal artists initiative with a vision.
proppaNOW constantly produces innovative work with an approach that comes from urban expression and questions the position that is ascribed to Aboriginal people and culture within the Australian context.
proppaNOW is interested and proactive in creating dialogue and raising the profile of indigenous arts ..
proppaNOW artists collective http://www.fineartforum.org/Gallery/proppanow
Exhibition opening
at the Lane Gallery -
12 O'Connell St,
Auckland,
New Zealand
5.30pm - 7pm, June 7, 2005
ph 09 302 5295
Richard Bell was born in Charleville, in the far south-west of Queensland in 1953 and is from the Kamilaroi, Kooma, Jiman and Gurang Gurang peoples. He has worked as an artist since the late 1980s and was instrumental in the 'first wave' of urban-based Indigenous artists. This art was a powerful means of social commentary, particularly in the lead-up to, and surrounding, the 1988 Bicentennial celebrations. (Which denied Australia's Indigenous history). His work has always commented on the state of politics, art and religion at the time.
Jennifer Herd is a Brisbane-based Mbarbarram woman who started out in costume and fashion design, then worked in the theatre and fashion industries for 12 years before taking up teaching in Indigenous Australian Education in the late 80's. More recently Jennifer has made a shift into design and installation work and painting, though her main research interests still remain in: the History of Aboriginal conflict in North Queensland and Australia, Indigenous Australian copyright and intellectual property, Urban Black Theatre, Indigenous Australian Art, and Aboriginal Education.
Laurie Nilsen was born in Roma, South West Queensland. At 20 years of age he began studying Commercial Illustration at the Queensland College of Art and then went on to study a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts. Lauries work essentially embraces sculptural concerns blending contemporary fine art issues with is extensive knowledge of Indigenous designs and principles.
Vernon Ah Kee Vernon Ah Kee was born in 1967 in Innisfail, north Queensland of the Kuku Yalandji, Waanji, Kokoberrin, Yidindji and Gugu Yimithirr peoples of north Queensland. After lecturing at the Queensland College of Art for some years, Vernon is now engaged in his own full-time art practice. His art is primarily a critique of Australian popular culture, specifically the Black / White dichotomy that locates itself in his work. \
Jenny Fraser was born in Mareeba, North Queensland. Her family hails from the Yugambir/Munuljahli people of the Bundjalung Nation. Because of the diverse creative mediums Jenny uses, much of her work defies categorisation. More recently her work takes iconic and everyday symbols of Australian life and places them into a context that questions the values they represent. With a laconic sense of humour she picks away at the fabric of our society, exposing contradictions, absurdities, and denial.
Bianca Beetson was born in Roma, Queensland in 1973. She completed a Bachelor of Visual Arts at QUT in 1995 and has been involved in regular solo and group exhibitions since then. She has carved her own particular signature as a provocative contemporary Indigenous Artist. Bianca currently works in Community Arts for the Brisbane City Council.
Tony Albert is a Brisbane-based artist. He was born in North Queensland and his family comes from Cardwell. At an early age his family moved to Brisbane where he grew up and now calls home. He is currently working at the Queensland Art Gallery and has completed studying Visual Arts majoring in Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art at QCA, Griffith University.
Andrea Fisher was born in Brisbane and belongs to the Birri Gubba and Wakka Wakka peoples of Queensland. Andrea works in mediums of body adornment, mixed media and installation. Andrea has exhibited her work at numerous galleries including, The Queensland Art Gallery. Andrea graduated from Visual Arts in Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art at Griffith University.