Earlier in the year I went to the Samstag Museum to see the Stop(the)Gap Exhibition on Indigenous moving image. Many of the artists are multi- disciplinary in their practice, but the emphasis was on moving image work as opposed to still imagery or mainstream film.
Brenda Croft was the curator that brought together all seven works by six indigenous artists from around the globe showing that despite physical distances, Indigenous communities everywhere are linked through their shared colonial histories, and the issues of inequality and misrepresentation.
Warwick Thornton's 'Stranded'
Warwick Thornton is an Indigenous filmaker from Kaytej north of Alice Springs. I remember 'Stranded' was the most interesting piece as it was viewed in a small dark theatre room with 3D glasses. In the film Thornton seems to be imitating Christ by being nailed to a white cube cross that rotates above various landscapes of strong colour and emotion. The nature of this work reflects his own quote when he was six years old that “I want to be like Jesus Christ when I grow up”. I think this work was very powerful and confronting as it gave me a sense of sadness.
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