Brad Webb
Brad Webb – 'The Power of Mirroring II', 2023
Bundjalung /Dunghutti Country.
'The Power of Mirroring' is drawn from lived experience and an acute observation of the lack of representation of Aboriginal people in all forms of media. Growing up I began to notice how Aboriginal people were presented, and represented through the media. Often it was in a negative and stereotypical way, depicting the vulnerabilities of alcoholism violence and poverty. The media space has always been dominated by white privilege, and media ownership has been controlled by white people who have the power in this space. They control the narrative of what is presented and represented on a daily basis. Seeing yourself is empowering as it validates and reinforces ones identity. However, this is rare experience for Aboriginal people and others of diverse minorities.
—
Brad Webb is a Bundjalung /Dunghutti man from northern New South Wales, currently based in Naarm/Melbourne. Webb primarily works in painting but experiments with combining visual painting and digital imaging reproduction as a way of giving new meaning and expression to his works. In 2021 Webb completed his Masters by Research which explored how colonisation and trans generational trauma has created a lost generation. Webb's research investigated the complex trauma of the Stolen Generation and its impact across future generations. In 2021 he commenced his PhD with Monash University. He is an artist and researcher with the Wominjeka Djeembana Indigenous Research Lab, within the Monash Design and Architecture Faculty. Webb's PhD research questions how colonial frameworks determine Aboriginal representation and cultural heritage, examining key institutions and their role in representing and presenting Indigeneity to contemporary society. Webb holds a Bachelor of Arts and Honours Degree in Creative Arts Visual Practice, completed in 2013 at Deakin University.
—
YARN
July 1 – September 16
Curated by Jahkarli Felicitas Romanis
Brad Webb, Carissa Gurwalwal, Corben Mudjandi, Kim Ah Sam, Leanne Namarnyilk, Nicholas Currie and Tarryn Love.
Storytelling is central to Aboriginal culture. It is rooted in Country, family, and spirit. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been storytellers for millennia, passing knowledge from one generation to the next.
Presented as part of NAIDOC week, YARN connects to this year's theme, 'For Our Elders.' Elders are the advocates, trailblazers, knowledge holders, guides and pillars of our communities. They have fought for the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, ensuring the survival of the longest-living culture in the world. They are the reason we are able to thrive and be proud of who we are.
YARN brings together the work of seven Indigenous makers. Woven within each artist's practice are the stories, lived experiences, knowledges and relational connections to Country. This exhibition draws on important oral histories and the significance of knowledge sharing through conversation and listening. Each artist is an agent of their voice, speaking to the gravity of arts practice as a form of storytelling.
Material: oil on canvass
Dimensions: 53cm H x 89cm W