Intricate woodcarvings reflect hardship of Indigenous assimilation

The painstaking reproduction of a dainty child’s bonnet from early European settlement days is at face value, a delicate woodcarving created by a talented artist.

On a deeper level however, Christine Mills-Kelly’s artwork Walk a mile in my shoes imitates the discomfort and difficulties faced by Aboriginal children in homes and institutions as a result of assimilation.

The USQ Creative Arts student from Oakey describes her art installations as depictions of the social issue of assimilation and its continuing repercussions on Indigenous Australians.

'I explore a range of mediums including photography, wood and mixed media to present a critical voice on personal and social levels,' Ms Mills-Kelly said.

'I laboriously carve numerous pairs of children’s shoes as well as a mixture of different sized hats in order to imitate the discomfort and difficulties faced by children as a result of assimilation.

'Using Camphor Laurel, these carvings symbolically emphasise how European methods and ways of life were foreign and forced upon Indigenous people.'

Ms Mills-Kelly has just completed her third year at USQ and is currently preparing to showcase her work in this month’s Graduart Exhibition; an annual event which enables the upcoming generation of visual artists to explore ideas on a social, philosophical and aesthetic realm.

Curated by USQ Ceramics lecturer Alexis Tacey, the exhibition features a variety of works by third-year and Honours Visual Arts students that apply an acquired knowledge of processes and techniques within their chosen studio area, such as printmaking, painting, ceramics, spatial construction and mixed media.

Ms Mills-Kelly said she worked mainly in wood and clay and had only been carving since mid-2009.

'It is extremely rewarding and a favourite method of expressing my concepts,” she said. 'I am of Aboriginal heritage and much of my art relates to aspects of my heritage.

'Like many artists I use my art as an expression of my views in regard to social and historical issues which affect me personally for various reasons.

'My work is very often layered with meaning, what is seen at first glance is usually only the surface, the actual object, however the object has a relationship to the material, the way it is displayed, the placement and order of the pieces and so on.'

After graduating, Ms Mills-Kelly plans to work in various galleries and tutor other Indigenous artists.

'It is also my intention to promote higher education, particularly within Indigenous communities, and to show mature-aged students it is never too late to continue education, pursue your dreams and expand your opportunities.'

Ms Mills-Kelly’s pieces will feature alongside 18 of her fellow students’ artwork during the Graduart Exhibition, to be held concurrently at two venues: the Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery and the USQ Arts Gallery. It will be officially opened at the USQ Arts Gallery on Friday, November 12 at 6pm.

USQ Creative Arts Head of School, Dr Janet McDonald, said ‘Graduart 2010’ marked the point of departure, a moment of maturity in the art-making trajectory of the University’s soon-to-be graduates who, in many cases, were already working within the arts sector in Queensland through secondments and other networking opportunities.

The exhibition runs from November 11 until December 5 at the Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery (Tuesday to Saturday 10am-4pm, Sunday 1pm to 4pm) and will continue until December 17 at the USQ Arts Gallery (Monday to Friday, 9am until 5pm).