Following in the wake of the large-scale exhibition BOMB, at the Museum of Contemporary Aboriginal Art in Utrecht in 2013 and more recently, BLAKATTAK at the SCA Galleries, Sydney in 2015, artists Blak Douglas and Adam Geczy continue their collaborative interrogation of the many misrepresentations and repressions of Aboriginal culture by white Australia with the exhibition The Most Gaoled Race on Earth.

Through site specific installations, mediated sculptural objects and graphic works, Blak Douglas and Adam Geczy engage with the continuing racism of the wider Australian public many of whom maintain a deep ignorance of Aboriginal history, rights and the ongoing problems that exist.

The Most Gaoeld Race on Earth is an ‘in your face’ exhibition that seeks be provocative and disturbing and that some may find controversial. Its aim is to give voice to the very real issues that affect Indigenous Australia through parody, irony and truth telling.

“The title of this exhibition is not a gratuitous provocation, it is a fact: per capita the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia are the most gaoled race on Earth. The works in this exhibition are prompted not by the spirit of ‘reconciliation’, or of conciliation, or of proselytization. They are prompted by anger,” write artists Blak Douglas and Adam Geczy.

By showing work of this nature The Lock-Up’s aims to shed light on these important issues and encourage open discussion and awareness in the wider community.

The exhibition will make up Part 1 of a two-part series of exhibitions. Part 2 will follow with The Most Stolen Race on Earth to be exhibited at the Northern Centre for Contemporary Art (NCCA) Darwin, later in 2016.

Blak Douglas and Adam Geczy have collaborated on numerous projects since 2008.

PLEASE NOTE: Exhibition contains adult themes. Parental guidance recommended.  Images may distress some viewers.

ABOUT BLAK DOUGLAS
Blak Douglas is an artist, musician and youth educator. Douglas was born Adam Douglas Hill on Dharug Country (Blacktown) to an Aboriginal father and Australian mother. Observing his artisan family’s work and later studying photography, illustration and graphics at the University of Western, Blak Douglas is a largely self taught artist whose work is devoutly politicised through his interest in social justice and stylistically influenced by graphic design and modern pop art.

Blak Douglas’ work is now widely collected nationally and internationally including in the collections of the National Gallery of Australia, National Museum of Australia, National Maritime Museum, NSW Parliament, Taipei Museum and the Aboriginal Art Museum of Utrecht. A classically trained Yidaki (Didgeridoo) player Douglas performances include the Festival of the Dreaming, Australian Idol, The Deadlys, Rugby World Cup opening ceremony, ‘Requiem’ Peter Sculthorpe & Inter/national tours (Musica Viva) and Paul Jarman Projects.

“Floating within the establishment, met the art mafia and know how it works. Still awaiting entry pass to the casino.” Blak Douglas

ABOUT ADAM GECZY
Adam Geczy is an artist, writer and academic who works at the University of Sydney as a Senior Lecturer in Sculpture and Art Theory at Sydney College of The Arts and in conjunction with the ATSI Research unit. Geczy’s works including video installations and performance-based works have been exhibited throughout Australia, Asia and Europe. His recent exhibitions include S/M Wonderland (ACP 2014) and BOMB (with Blak Douglas) at the Museum of Contemporary Aboriginal Art I Utrecht, Holland. He is also the author of numerous books: in press is The Artificial Body in Fashion and Art: Models, Mannequins and Marionettes (Bloomsbury, 2016). He has recently co-founded with Jakelin Troy a new journal for Indigenous studies (Penn State Press).