Lucy Elliott speaks with gay Indigenous artist Ben McKeown about his latest body of work.
Ben McKeown is hitting his stride as a painter who draws on personal experience, both good and bad, to create bold urban landscapes.
His most recent work explores the notion of empire, exploring the influence of Australia’s colonial history and its relationship to culture, identity, place and environment. There’s no overt political agenda in the works, but rather a subtle reminder that Australia’s history has long been dominated by imperial rule.
Alongside artists Paul Kalemba and Nicola Page, McKeown will exhibit his latest paintings in a new exhibition, Beneath the Empire, at Melbourne’s Upstairs Flinders gallery next week.
As McKeown explains, “the idea for the show grew out of the premise that we are all products of empire.”
An Indigenous artist, McKeown is keen to explore his own personal relationship to space and locality. In particular he is interested in the overlaying of history, of the multiple narratives that co-exist physically in a place at any given time.
“I’m interested in history, in walking around the streets, around Clifton Hill, through the cobblestone laneways; all that is really interesting for me,” he says.
Originally a country boy who grew up in South Australia, McKeown drew on early childhood memories to make sense of his identity. Many of his early works make little use of colour, and highlight what was for McKeown a painful period in his life.
“I know a lot about pain. My early works reflect the depression that I suffered from.” In a much better place now, McKeown has discovered colour.
“I’m just liking new colours. I’m trying new styles. I’m interested in our relationship to space; in looking at houses from a birds-eye perspective, and laneways and streets. It’s a new [visual] language I’m working on, a mixture of indigenous and English. I’m just trying to make a blend of the two languages.
“My early work is based more on childhood memories. Now I’m doing more urban narratives, tilting the perspective by showing bird’s eye landscapes, using the freeness of tracks and roads, and roundabouts. I’m interested in showing the traces of history,” he explains.
The works themselves combine traditional dot painting, abstraction and a kind of naive figuration, with many of the paintings mapping out locations that McKeown has lived in.
An installation piece that McKeown collaborated on with fellow artist Paul Kalemba sums up their concerns.
Stacks of handmade cards of the King and Queen tower over a landscape rich with Indigenous heritage. The work is about the layering of histories, and of seeking alternative viewpoints through which to understand identity. McKeown’s art practice offers up a new questioning of Australian identity and an expanding indigenous arts practice that is both ‘urban’ and ‘traditional’.
When asked what he hopes people will get out of viewing the work, McKeown answers, “I want audiences to think about how Indigenous people live in the city – in urban spaces.”
Beneath the Empire at Upstairs Flinders Gallery, First Floor 137 Flinders Lane (entry via Oliver Lane) Melbourne, from April 30 – May 10.
So happy for you, Ben. For those that are not indigenous, to view your work as you walk through life will be a blessing and hopefully lead to a better understanding, that we can all be in harmony as one.
"Each leaf that falls, each droplet from the sky, is caught by someone not necessarily by the eye."
Wishing you much success personally and professionally.
... written by Lis , 24 April, 2008
What a shame there were no photos of your art work. I am a fan of your earlier work and love the way you have introduced more contemporary colours. I am sure that you will be successful at all your exhibitions. Is there anywhere that we can view your art online?
... written by Judy , 24 April, 2008
Good Luck Ben. Knock em over with your art, son. Love you... Wish I could be there xxxxx
... written by Belinda , 24 April, 2008
Sounds like quite a fascinating exhibition. A unique view point of Australian history that would be worth while seeing. All the best with both your personal and professional journey.
Lucy Elliott speaks with gay Indigenous artist Ben McKeown about his latest body of work.
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