Designed for students, this education resource presents ideas for thinking about and making art inspired by selected Aboriginal artists from New South Wales.

Looking and responding

Study this still from the video installation Picturing the Old People 2005 by Genevieve Grieves. Notice the different clothes and objects that each person wears or holds. Describe the different people you can see. Do you think they are contemporary? Explain your answer using information from the artwork.

Grieves explores the ways that Indigenous people have been represented in history. Collect pictures from the media that represent different cultural groups. Describe the different sorts of images you find. Do you notice any recurring themes? In class, discuss how images can contribute to stereotyping groups of people.

Think about what is meant by the word ‘stereotype’. List different stereotypes you are aware of and assess their accuracy. Why is it important to be aware of the way stereotypes operate and to guard against them? Discuss these ideas in class.

Making

Stage a photo shoot. Set up a backdrop and choose costumes and props that contribute to the desired effect. Act the roles of the subject and the photographer. Improvise some dialogue which leads to taking a portrait. Who is in control of how the photograph looks? Is it the photographer or the subject? Discuss how it feels to be the subject, being directed and told what to do, and to be the photographer, directing everyone.

Looking and responding

Look closely at Spearing the kangaroo c1880s–c1890s by Tommy McRae. Name the shapes and patterns you can see. Which elements are repeated? What is happening in this scene? What sounds would you hear? Describe the sequence of events and identify elements of the work that tell you this. Think about the title. Describe what you think will happen next.

Making

Notice the use of line, negative and positive space and qualities of paper, pen and ink. Identify signs that indicate the age of this work. How has this artist suggested action and place?