‘Balance 1990: Views, Visions, Influences’
Feb 1990 -
Apr 1990
With the opening of ‘Balance 1990: Views, Visions, Influences’, which reflects the range and diverse manifestations of the rich and complex Aboriginal culture, comes the opportunity of seeing and evaluating an area of activity in the visual arts which previously has not been collated into a cohesive and deliberate format; it is a concept of a shared aesthetic in which works by Aboriginal and White Australian artists, using both traditional and contemporary images and a variety of media, cross previously accepted boundaries and merge culturally.
One can interpret this as a continuing search for Aboriginal identity in traditional, regional and urban environments. In the work of the White Australian artists, there often exists, either in part or in total, a constant manifestation of Aboriginal social, political and (on occasions) religious issues, through images which appropriate elements of traditional Aboriginal art. They are works in which White Australians can begin to establish their relationship with the disparate manifestations of Aboriginal culture.
‘Balance 1990’ does reveal a variety of views, visions and influences, but in many cases a balance or equilibrium has not been achieved in the issues raised and approached in the images themselves, and this gives the exhibition its immediate relevance and dynamism.
This exhibition is the first co-ordinated national exposure given to this important and active area of Aboriginal and White Australian collaboration in the visual arts.
— Doug Hall, 1990
The above excerpt is drawn from Doug Hall’s foreword to Balance 1990: Views, Visions, Influences [exhibition catalogue], Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane, 1990.
Feature image: Works installed for ‘Balance 1990’, QAG, 1990 (scan from colour side, QAGOMA Library) / Photograph: Ray Fulton, QAGOMA
Collection artworks featured in ‘Balance 1990: Views, Visions, Influences’
Seven Sisters 1989
- ATLEY, Peter - Creator
Dreaming figures 1989
- DEWAR, Greg - Creator
Bird 1989
- MUNKARA, Ambrose - Creator
Yingarna triptych 1989
- NGANJMIRA, Bobby Barrdjaray - Collaborating artist
- NGANJMIRA, Weslie - Collaborating artist
Man figure 1989
- PAPAJUA, Paul Six - Creator
Bird 1987
- PURUNTATAMERI, Clementine - Creator
Lovers story 1989
- SAUNDERS, Zane - Creator
Island fish patterns 1989
- BARSA, Tatipai - Creator
Ducks and pythons 1989
- CARLTON, Paddy - Creator
Yes Sir, I can Boogie 1989
- CASEY, Karen - Creator
Paarintji 1989
- DAVIES, Isabel - Creator
Gol Gol 1988
- DAVIES, Isabel - Creator
Turrubul 1989
- DOYLE, Noel - Creator
Looking for desert frogs 1989
- GILL, Lucy - Creator
Catfish 1989
- LESLIE, Lawrence - Creator
Red sands I 1989
- McINERNEY, June Kunyi - Creator
Melaleuca trees 1989
- THOMAS, Harold - Creator
Kurlama 1987
- TUNGUTALAM, Bede - Creator
The Coming of the Light 1987
- BENNETT, Gordon - Creator
Listening to the wind (from 'Works from the People's Republic of Spiritual Revolution' series) 1989
- BENNETT, Gordon - Collaborating artist
- CARCHESIO, Eugene - Collaborating artist
Daddy's little girl (from 'Works from the People's Republic of Spiritual Revolution' series) 1989
- BENNETT, Gordon - Collaborating artist
- CARCHESIO, Eugene - Collaborating artist
Spirit level (from 'Works from the People's Republic of Spiritual Revolution' series) 1989
- BENNETT, Gordon - Collaborating artist
- CARCHESIO, Eugene - Collaborating artist
The School of Arts (from 'Works from the People's Republic of Spiritual Revolution' series) 1989
- BENNETT, Gordon - Collaborating artist
- CARCHESIO, Eugene - Collaborating artist
The little red brick schoolhouse (Kandinsky's black relationship E version no.1) (from 'Works from the People's Republic of Spiritual Revolution' series) 1989
- BENNETT, Gordon - Collaborating artist
- CARCHESIO, Eugene - Collaborating artist
Kandinsky's black relationship E version no.2 (from 'Works from the People's Republic of Spiritual Revolution' series) 1989
- BENNETT, Gordon - Collaborating artist
- CARCHESIO, Eugene - Collaborating artist
Eclipse (cast a cold shadow) Kandinsky's black relationship E version no.3 (from 'Works from the People's Republic of Spiritual Revolution' series) 1989
- BENNETT, Gordon - Collaborating artist
- CARCHESIO, Eugene - Collaborating artist
The small brown house (with test patterns for thought) (from 'Works from the People's Republic of Spiritual Revolution' series) 1989
- BENNETT, Gordon - Collaborating artist
- CARCHESIO, Eugene - Collaborating artist
Untitled (from 'Works from the People's Republic of Spiritual Revolution' series) 1989
- BENNETT, Gordon - Collaborating artist
- CARCHESIO, Eugene - Collaborating artist
The School of Arts (imaginary landscape) (from 'Works from the People's Republic of Spiritual Revolution' series) 1989
- BENNETT, Gordon - Collaborating artist
- CARCHESIO, Eugene - Collaborating artist
Grog story 1988
- CALLAGHAN, Michael - Creator
Let's have a drink and celebrate (from 'Right here right now - Australia 1988' portfolio) 1987
- McDONALD, Robyn - Collaborating artist
- PATERSON, Phyllis - Collaborating artist
- NOTHLING, Stephen - Collaborating artist
Rock (Art) of Ages 1989-90
- BELL, Richard - Collaborating artist
- GARLETT, Mark - Collaborating artist
Nomad economy 1979
- GREEN, Denise - Creator
Black 1988
- HODGES, Christopher - Creator
Bradman bowled Gilbert 1989
- HURLEY, Ron - Creator
Homeless? 1989
- JENUARRIE - Creator
Yuelamu 1988
- JOHNSON, Tim - Creator
Unity 1988
- KURWINGIE - Creator
Pregnancy 1988
- McMAHON, Marie - Creator
Healing place 1988
- MEEKS, Arone Raymond - Creator
Earth as Mother 1989
- MORGAN, Sally - Creator
Big house 1988
- MOSS, Rod - Creator
Spaceman 1987
- PARR, Geoff - Creator
Broken law 1989
- TEAMAY, Malya - Creator
A foot in both camps 1989
- WALL, Colleen - Creator
Black Magic 1987
- ZIKA, Paul - Creator
Coffeepot and four mugs 1989
- AIRDRUNDAR CO-OPERATIVE - Maker
- CRAIGIE, P. - Decorator
Boomerang 1989
- BARKER, Roy - Maker
- McDONALD, Delores - Decorator
Bracelet and earring set 1989
- BELL, Richard - Creator
Desert tracks 1988
- BROWN, Judith - Creator
Spear-thrower 1989
- BUTLER, Charlie - Creator
Boomerang 1988
- CHARLES, Ross - Creator
Geo-centralis 1989
- CLACK, Pauline - Creator
Carved snake 1989
- COOLEY, Billy - Creator
Boomerang 1989
- DOOLAN, Bill - Creator
Echidna quill earrings 1989
- DUNCAN, Liz - Creator
Echidna quill earrings 1989
- DUNCAN, Liz - Creator
Shield 1988
- DURAL - Creator
Spear 1989
- KANTILLA, Donald - Creator
Shield 1989
- KARADADA, Ross - Creator
Devil devil dog 1989
- KNGWARREYE, Lucky - Creator
Camp dog 1989
- KNGWARREYE, Ruby - Creator
Coolamon 1989
- KARADADA, Lacky - Creator
Spirit of the Deep 1989
- LEWIN, Dwayne - Creator
Textile length: Spider web design 1989
- MARIKA, Julie Banunydji - Designer
- GALUPA SCREENPRINTS - Manufacturer
Nulla-nulla 1989
- MURPHY, Jack - Creator
Floor pot (fish & stingray) 1989
- NONA, Harry - Creator
Goanna 1989
- PALPITJA, Nyalapantja - Creator
Coolamon 1989
- NYIUI - Creator
Double head 1989
- PAPAJUA, Paul Six - Creator
Grandfather and grandson 1988
- PIKE, Jimmy - Creator
Carved boab nut 1989
- POLKINGHORNE, Tommy - Creator
Plaster cod 1989
- ROBERTS, Bluey - Creator
Coolamon 1989
- SIMON, Biddy - Creator
Sunset 1990
- SMITH, Donny - Creator
Red country 1990
- SMITH, Donny - Creator
Decorated tray 1987
- SMITH, Donny - Creator
Map of Australia 1989
- TERRIALLA, Eddie - Creator
Tablecloth 1989
- TIWI DESIGNS - Creator
Spear c.1988-89
- UNKNOWN - Creator
Quilt - Biri dancers 1989
- WASON, Coralie - Creator
Boomerang: fishtrap 1989
- WASON, Coralie - Decorator
- KOWROWA ABORIGINAL ARTS & CRAFT - Maker
Boomerang: Min min light 1989
- WASON, Coralie - Decorator
- KOWROWA ABORIGINAL ARTS & CRAFT - Maker
Fish spear 1988
- WATT, Thuganmu Arnold - Creator
(Dugong hunt) 1989
- WILSON, Jimmy - Creator
Boomerang 1989
- WIRIGERIE - Creator
Killer boomerang 1989
- WIRIGERIE - Creator
'S' boomerang 1989
- WIRIGERIE - Creator
Nulla-nulla 1989
- WIRIGERIE - Creator
(Decorated bean pod) 1989
- WIRIGERIE - Creator
Boomerang 1989
- MR YATES - Creator
Boomerang 1989
- MR YATES - Creator