Brendan Kelly
b. 1970 Ryde, NSWMovement at the Midden, 2021
Signed lower left
Acrylic and graphite on board
200.5 x 90cm
Very slowly but surely, times are changing for the First Nations people of Australia. It wasn’t long ago that much of the Indigenous population was forced to abandon their culture...
Very slowly but surely, times are changing for the First Nations people of Australia. It wasn’t long ago that much of the Indigenous population was forced to abandon their culture and live under the rule of British invaders, but over the last 50 years or so there have been signs of change. The right to vote, the right to be counted on the census, the right to raise their own children, these are relatively new concessions made to our First Nations people that admittedly aren’t much, but they represent the beginning of change.
In modern times we now acknowledge the traditional custodians of Australia at large gatherings and sporting events. We have Welcome to Country ceremonies. We have TV stations specializing in Indigenous content and production. There have been advances made in land rights, which once again really aren’t much, but times are definitely changing. There is movement at the midden.
In modern times we now acknowledge the traditional custodians of Australia at large gatherings and sporting events. We have Welcome to Country ceremonies. We have TV stations specializing in Indigenous content and production. There have been advances made in land rights, which once again really aren’t much, but times are definitely changing. There is movement at the midden.