Ep 68: Blak Douglas

Blak Douglas is well known for his brightly coloured landscapes with their trademark seven-tiered sky but he’s also an accomplished portraitist. At the time of writing, his work hangs in the Art Gallery of NSW in both the Archibald and Wynne prizes which are arguably the most famous portrait and landscape awards in Australia. His paintings always have something to say about social justice, often with irony and humour playing an important part and with his Aboriginal identity central to his work.  He’s won several awards and has been finalist in many others including three times in the Archibald prize. His work is currently hanging in the Art Gallery of NSW in the Archibald and Wynne prizes and is held in various public collections including the National Gallery of Australia. His grandmother, Clorine Morthem,  was one of the stolen generation, taken at 13 years of age and institutionalised in Cootamundra Girls home, something that has had repercussions down the generations.  His father’s ancestors are the Dunghutti people from northern NSW and his mother was from an Irish Australian background. Although his name given at birth is Adam Hill, he took on the name Blak Douglas in recent years to reflect those two sides of his ancestry. I spoke with him in his Redfern studio which he shares with other artists and this conversation starts at an earlier time, when his parents first met. Press play under the feature photo above to hear the podcast episode. A short video of Douglas in his studio will be posted to the website soon. Current events Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes, Art Gallery of NSW, 11 May to 8 September 2019 Show notes Blak DouglasBlak Douglas on Instagram Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operativeAunty Jean SouthUncle Roy KennedyAunty Elaine RussellAunty Esme TimberyHetti Perkins 'White shells, black heart', 2019, synthetic polymer paint and shells on canvas, 195 x 195cmFinalist Archibald Prize, 2019 'Six Finger Salary', 2009, synthetic polymer on cotton canvas, 100 x 130cmFinalist Wynne Prize 2009 'Uncle Roy Kennedy', 2018, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 195.5 x 195.5cmFinalist Archibald Prize 2018 'Smoke and mrrors (Uncle Max Eulo), acrylic on canvas, 214 x 214cmFinalist Archibald prize 2015 'Ashes, damper and kangaroo stew for dinner', 2019, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 94.5 x 124.5cm (collaboration with the late Elaine Russell)Finalist Wynne prize 2019 'Three strikes and you're out', synthetic polymer on canvas 150 x 200cm 'Upstanding Citizen', 2018, 120 x 100cm