‘Reclamation of a Trophy’ mixed media 2009
Souvenir
1. something given or kept for remembrance; a memento
2. a memory
3. colloquial to pilfer (Macquarie Dictionary)
Colonial forces in Australia use various means to control, disperse & exterminate Aboriginal people.
In the 20th century ceramic souvenirs like plates and ashtrays with grotesque and stereotypical depictions of Aboriginal people were rife and helped to propagate colonial myths and fossilize Aborigines and cultural practices.
The body of work in this show retell the narrative with a revised take on the realities of racist Australia. The work follows in a grand tradition of reclaiming/rescuing by many other Contemporary Australian Indigenous Artists.
Included in Penny’s show ‘Souvenir’ are mixed media wall pieces and a series of stunning large handmade bowls and vases.