Page 40 - Art Almanac (February 2020)

Belonging: Feedback Loops

Stories of Australian Art Australian Centre for Contemporary Art

Until 22 March, 2020
National Gallery of Australia
Ongoing Melbourne

Australian Capital Territory
The history of 19th century Australian art is Madison Bycroft, Tianzhuo Chen, Lu Yang,
recast in this epic presentation of historical Sahej Rahal, Justin Shoulder and Zadie Xa
and contemporary work created by more explore the role of the cycle, the echo and
than 170 artists from across Australia. By reiteration in ‘Feedback Loops’. By combining
placing a range of Indigenous and non- mythology, spirituality and philosophy with
Indigenous works side by side for the first personal and collective narratives, popular
time, ‘Belonging: Stories of Australian Art’ culture and art history, in visual, aural and
reconsiders Australia’s history of colonisation spatial configurations, they propose alternate
through a visual narrative of its impact and worlds and speculative fictions; from Rahal’s
ongoing effects, from traditional European digital landscape populated by AI-driven alien
depictions of Australian landscapes void of beings – their movement controlled by gallery
First Nations people to contemporary works noise, to Shoulder’s augmented human-hybrid
representing Indigenous perspectives. creature brought to life by the artist.

Mervyn Bishop (Murri people), Prime Minister Gough Whitlam Justin Shoulder, Carrion, 2018, performance still, Arts House,
pours soil into hand of traditional landowner Vincent Lingiari, Melbourne
Northern Territory, 1975, printed 1994, dye destruction Photograph: Bryony Jackson
photograph Courtesy the artist and Australian Centre for Contemporary Art,
© Mervyn Bishop Melbourne
Courtesy the artist, Josef Lebovic Gallery, Sydney and National
Gallery of Australia, Australian Capital Territory
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