Bennelong - Coat of Contention, 2021
Acrylic and graphite on board
122 x 82cm
BKE006
Copyright The Artist
Woollarawarre Bennelong didn’t ask to be so directly (and historically) involved in the life and times of the British settlement at Sydney Cove, he was forced to do so after...
Woollarawarre Bennelong didn’t ask to be so directly (and historically) involved in the life and times of the British settlement at Sydney Cove, he was forced to do so after being captured, and held against his will by request of Governor Arthur Philip in order to ‘better understand’ the Indigenous people of the region.
Bennelong was literally dragged into Australia’s history, kicking and screaming.
Any number of Eora men could’ve come forward to take the ‘present’ of fresh fish being offered by the British on that fateful day at Manly Cove, but as it was, Bennelong accepted the gift and found himself pounced upon, tied up and taken away by boat, before he or his countrymen knew what had happened.
He was given a shave and haircut before being scrubbed in a bathtub to ascertain the ‘true’ colour of his skin then dressed in European clothing including trousers, shoes, a collared shirt, and a British red coat.
Attached to Bennelong’s ankle was a leg iron, which was then attached to a convict whose job it was to make sure he didn’t escape.
I think at that point Bennelong was beginning to ‘better understand’ the British.
Bennelong was literally dragged into Australia’s history, kicking and screaming.
Any number of Eora men could’ve come forward to take the ‘present’ of fresh fish being offered by the British on that fateful day at Manly Cove, but as it was, Bennelong accepted the gift and found himself pounced upon, tied up and taken away by boat, before he or his countrymen knew what had happened.
He was given a shave and haircut before being scrubbed in a bathtub to ascertain the ‘true’ colour of his skin then dressed in European clothing including trousers, shoes, a collared shirt, and a British red coat.
Attached to Bennelong’s ankle was a leg iron, which was then attached to a convict whose job it was to make sure he didn’t escape.
I think at that point Bennelong was beginning to ‘better understand’ the British.