03/09/2023
As I may have mentioned once or twice before, Australia used to have a big shortage of Aboriginals in esoteric jobs like astrophysicist or conceptual artist. But once a judge ruled in the Bolt case that nobody is allowed to publicly question assertions of aboriginalness, that problem has been rapidly disappearing. For instance, from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation:
Indigenous artist seeking body of Australian of British descent for âsacrifice to past sinsâ
By Adam Holmes and Ellen CoulterA Tasmanian Aboriginal artist says he has already received responses to his advertisement seeking an Australian of British descent to donate their future dead body for an art installation.
Key points:
The artist has advertised in a Melbourne newspaper for someone willing to âdonate their future deceased body to an art installationâ
Nathan Maynard says the artwork will âspeak to sacrifice for past sins perpetrated against the palawa [Aboriginal inhabitants of Tasmania]â
Interestingly, Tasmanian Aboriginal playwright/artist Nathan Maynard has eyes the color of a Bic pen:
An ethics specialist has described the project as having a âfresh approachâ
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains images of people who have died.
Nathan Maynardâs artwork, Relict Act, will be part of the Hobart Current arts festival, where he wants the public to draw comparisons between the historic theft of Aboriginal remains and artefacts, and the voluntary donation of white Australian remains.
âŚMaynard would not say exactly what the artwork would look like, what form it would take, or whether the chosen person would need to die before or after the exhibit in November.
Maybe a white person could die during the exhibit as a human sacrifice?
For example, granted, Nathan Maynard is, beyond legal doubt, a Tasmanian Aborigine, but if he were to sacrifice himself during his exhibition, would any onlookers notice that he wasnât white?
Just something to think about, Nate.
âŚThe Hobart Current arts festival is supported by the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) and the City of Hobart council.
âŚIn 2021, TMAG apologised to Tasmaniaâs Aboriginal people for the removal of Aboriginal remains for collection and trade, as well as for its past resistance to the repatriation of remains. Such practice was common in Tasmania.
The apology also accepted âbeyond disputeâ that TMAG had âdisrespected the remainsâ of Indigenous woman Truganini, including public displays and interpretations of her remains, and disregarded her wishes to be buried in the DâEntrecastreaux [sic] Channel.
Youâll notice the close family resemblance between Truganini and Maynard.