Racial Conflict Exhibition
Michelle Williams ‘Stop Racism’
Stop Racism is a digital image made in Photoshop or something similar where it is possible to layer images and text. The artist has included a statement, then defined it explicitly and used imagery to support the statement. A monochromatic colour scheme has been used to create contrast and symbolism.
Graphic artist Michelle Williams created this image to address the issue of racism in our society and by providing a succinct definition has clearly communicated that she believes it is easily resolved. The black and white figurines are used in many works that deal with racism to symbolise the difference in skin colour that is so centred in much racial conflict.
Graphic artist Michelle Williams created this image to address the issue of racism in our society and by providing a succinct definition has clearly communicated that she believes it is easily resolved. The black and white figurines are used in many works that deal with racism to symbolise the difference in skin colour that is so centred in much racial conflict.
Luke Ramsey ‘Get Under our Skin’
A quirky image, this painting depicts people of all nationalities standing alongside one person without a skin colour to judge. With bright colours this image gives an almost amusing commentary on racism by looking past the exterior. Using figurines rather than real people helps to communicate this message to children without detracting from the seriousness of the issue.
"Racism is ignorance. Here's a piece I made to help teach children (and adults) that we are all human beings, not stereotypes".
"Racism is ignorance. Here's a piece I made to help teach children (and adults) that we are all human beings, not stereotypes".
Jaideep Shah ‘Blinded by Race’
A very simple drawing, this image relies strongly on symbolism through line and colour to communicate the artist’s message. It depicts a group of ‘white’ people and a group of ‘black’ people separated by a barbed wire. Jaideep Shah created this image in response to an experience of racial hatred while travelling on a Subway to represent the ridiculous idiom of race based on the colour of our skin.
“For example, to call someone “white” or “black” is to use the language of colour of one’s skin to attribute some quality to someone who is “black”, that is apparently different from the person who happens to be “white”. If we emptied the mythical attributes of each of these colours, then “white” and “black” would be no more than a description of the rich shades that our perception of the world is endowed with.”
“For example, to call someone “white” or “black” is to use the language of colour of one’s skin to attribute some quality to someone who is “black”, that is apparently different from the person who happens to be “white”. If we emptied the mythical attributes of each of these colours, then “white” and “black” would be no more than a description of the rich shades that our perception of the world is endowed with.”
Wayne Krause ‘Selling of our Culture’
A more complex surrealist drawing from aboriginal artist Wayne Krause depicting the travels of the aboriginal men and women from the bare land destroyed by the ‘invaders’. This acrylic painting on canvas uses flowing lines to exemplify movement and the colour palette depicts the bare land and anger of the spirits through the use of dark shades of red and blue.
The surrealist nature of this artwork gives it an unnerving and upsetting emotional balance to communicate the effects of the European settlement in Australia through the eyes of the Aboriginal people. This painting addresses the topic of racial conflict from a different standpoint by examining the effect rather than the act.
The surrealist nature of this artwork gives it an unnerving and upsetting emotional balance to communicate the effects of the European settlement in Australia through the eyes of the Aboriginal people. This painting addresses the topic of racial conflict from a different standpoint by examining the effect rather than the act.
Tania Kerr ‘Racial Rift’
This artwork focuses on the separation of ‘black’ and ‘white’ people in society. It shows two sides of a blood stained battle, with a vast and dense rift between the two created by the acts they have committed on each other in racial conflict. Pictured are people on either side – one group ‘black’ and the other ‘white’ – using the societal stereotypes to communicate the separation caused by racism.
The hands symbolise that people are entirely responsible for pulling apart society because of their resistance to get along. Red has been used to demonstrate the bloodshed in this battle that has stained society and the images in the rift are actual acts of racism.
The hands symbolise that people are entirely responsible for pulling apart society because of their resistance to get along. Red has been used to demonstrate the bloodshed in this battle that has stained society and the images in the rift are actual acts of racism.
Domingo Ulloa ‘Racism/Incident at Little Rock’
Rather than presenting a personal view of the social issue Ulloa has painted an interpretation of an actual act of racism. This incident was the assault on a group of African American students when they tried to enter a ‘white school’. This painting clearly communicates the violence between ‘black’ and ‘white’ people in society with strong contrasting colours and the nature of the figurines attacking the ‘black’ children.
This artwork focuses more on the violence and victimisation that accompanies racial conflict in our society than the issue as a whole. Domingo Ulloa has used a combination of surrealist and realism techniques to communicate the message. It is very clear through this image that the black children are frightened of the army of white figures that are attacking them with obvious aggression.
This artwork focuses more on the violence and victimisation that accompanies racial conflict in our society than the issue as a whole. Domingo Ulloa has used a combination of surrealist and realism techniques to communicate the message. It is very clear through this image that the black children are frightened of the army of white figures that are attacking them with obvious aggression.
Michael D’Antuono ‘A Tale of Two Hoodies’
A Tale of Two Hoodies is also a reflection on actual events. It shows a white policeman in a Klan hood holding a gun on a little black boy in a white hoodie while he holds up a bag of Sweeties that looks like a bag of Skittles. On the wall behind them a dirty American flag is partly peeled away to show the Confederate flag that white people fought under to defend slavery.
“Inspired by the Trayvon Martin case, this painting symbolizes the travesty of racially profiling innocent children and how present day prejudices affect policy.”
“Inspired by the Trayvon Martin case, this painting symbolizes the travesty of racially profiling innocent children and how present day prejudices affect policy.”