In this solo exhibition at the NAS Gallery, conceptual artist Vernon Ah Kee presents a thought-provoking portrait of black and white political issues, attitudes and ideologies.
2017 marks the 50th anniversary of the 1967 referendum in Australia, which amended the constitution to remove provisions that racially discriminated against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, including their omission in the national Census. Coincidentally, Vernon Ah Kee was also born in 1967.
From masterful drawings of his forebears to text-based installations, paintings and three-dimensional works, Ah Kee weaves together the history and language of colonisation to expose degrees of underlying racism in contemporary Australian society.
Where: National Art School, Forbes Street, Darlinghurst
When: 7 January–11 March 2017, 11am–5pm; closed on Sundays
Find out more: https://www.nas.edu.au/place/gallery/current-exhibition
Lecture
Artist Vernon Ah Kee discusses his exhibition not an animal or a plant at the National Art School Gallery and reflects on the 1967 referendum: what it meant for him and his family and what has changed 50 years on.
Where: NAS Gallery
When: Thursday 16 February, 6pm for a 6.30 start
Tickets: $12 per person, including a glass of wine or beer – book here.