Jason Wing, 2010, Self Portrait, acrylic paint and cement.
Source: Tandanya
In addition to my ongoing journey of learning more about Aboriginal art, Jason Wing's exhibition is definitely another highlight.
My show explores the issues of cultural identity and aims to challange the stereotypes of what is generally perceived to be "Aboriginal." I used my Chinese, Aboriginal and Australian perspective to comment on current social and political issues, through sculptures, intallations and paintings. (1)
- Jason Wing
Being of Aboriginal-Chinese descent, Jason Wing's work explores his mutli-cultural identity as well as the many controversial issues involved within them and the Australian society in very interesting and quirky ways. As you walk through the gallery you see this range of different materials and themes, all unique in their own way. Having always been inspired by works with a confronting nature since learning art in high school, like Banksy's spray paints and Michael Duchamps' toilet seat as art, seeing Wing's work was a very amusing experience for me. From spray paintings, puzzles, to natural ochres, to street signs, syringes and yes - even a piece of white bread and a fish in a bowl - his works were exceptional and each seem to embed a very strong concept. Each artwork had its own story to tell and its own puzzle to solve - What does this mean? What is it talking about? What is this symbolic of? These were the kinds of questions running through my mind as I inspected each of his works closely. Wing's artworks have a sense of mystery to them due to their metaphoric nature and in some interesting interweaving and juxtaposition of opposing or different ideas, where you wanted to just discover the meaning behind each work. While some were clearer than others, they all caught my attention. In fact, when I got home I did a little research about his works.
Jason Wing, 2009, Blacktown Dreaming, glass bottles, goon bags, syringes, spray cans, plinths.
Source: Sydney Morning Herald
One of the interesting works I saw in the gallery was "Blacktown Dreaming," which was an installation of three beds made of three different materials: beer bottles, syringes and spray cans. In this art work, Jason Wing attempt to address the issue of substance abuse that is prominent within the Aboriginal society and which is often overlooked as a by-product of colonisation when examining the position of Aboriginal people (2):
"Wing teases out the way in which dug use creates a dreamlike state but it is a harmful and dangerous one, an evil Dreaming. The pillow of the bed made of spray cans lookes at first glancce as thorugh it was plased with bright cheedful colours until you realise that it is symbolic of Aboriginal children coughing yp paint fist thing in the morning" (3)In another work, Wing also poses with different placards hung around his neck: "Alcoholic," "Criminal" and "Pedophile." Again, here he questions and challenges us to think and contemplate of the labels that are often placed upon Aboriginal people. He does to experience for himself what it is like to be identified by these stereotypes. (4)
While his works generally focus on similar kinds of issues: such as the use of a registration colour bar in symbolising the identification of identity through skin colour (5), a train crossing sign set in the shape of a cross which I guess would suggest the impact of Christianity on Aboriginal culture as well as the word redruM spelling Murder when read backwards and an undone puzzle artwork named "Family" (While the words that were written on the puzzle didn't actually seem to spell "Family") his works also explores his multicultural identity at the same time. In a large blown up artwork, Jason Wing shows a portrait of himself standing between his grandfathers, one a Chinese man and the other an Aboriginal man which depicts the essence of who he is. You can also see from the materials and techniques he uses how he is influenced by both Aboriginal and Chinese culture: He uses both the technique of Chinese paper cuts and Aboriginal rock paintings in making his stencils and graffiti while creating artworks using traditional Aboriginal materials such as ochre and using a red, yellow and black colour pallete symbolic for both cultures. (6) In his works, Wing truly embraces his multicultural identity and you can see that it is the source of his inspiration. Being a mix of Chinese, Dutch and Indonesian myself, "The Other, Other" was very inspiring in seeing someone who is able to express all parts of their culture through their art and while I'm still left with so many questions - like the meaning of the fish in the bowl with one black and one speckled white rock, I left the gallery feeling inspired with more knowledge and appreciation for Aboriginal art. Anways, to end this post, I just wanted to share with you an interesting short clip, giving you a little glimpse of Jason Wing and his work. Hope you enjoy!
References:
(1) Tandanya, "Jason Wing - 'The Other, Other'" (paper presented at the Tandanya, National Aboriginal Cultural Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, 30 Septermber - 13 November, 2011).
(2) "Jason Wing," Jason Wing, accessed 21 October, 2011, http://www.jasonwing.net.
(3) Larissa Behdrendt, "In Flight: Jason Wing," Artlink 31 (2011): 68.
(4) "Jason Wing."
(5) Behdrendt, "In Flight," 68.
(6) Jeni Clevers. 2008. Jason Wing on Arts Sunday [Video] Retrieved 21 October, 2011, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnQtepvPPKQ.
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