INDIGENOUS ARTIST PROMISED DEAD WHITE BODIES FOR ARTS FESTIVAL
BY ELIZA KLOSER
Hobart, Tasmania with Kunanyi (Mount Wellington) in the background. Credit: Eliza Kloser
A Tasmanian Indigenous artist has received multiple responses to his request for the dead body of a white person for an art installation.
Palawa artist Nathan Maynard put an advertisement in the Age newspaper at the beginning of March, seeking an Australian of British descent willing to donate their body once deceased to be featured in an art installation.
Ad posted in the Age Newspaper.
Mr Maynard said over a dozen people who responded to the ad were willing to donate their future dead bodies in “sacrifice for past sins against the Palawa from white Australia.”
“When I say past sins, it’s not just the invasion,” he said.
“We’ve still got so many of our old people’s remains in white institutions around the world.
“Our ancestors from all around the country are still in these white institutions around the world.”
Mr Maynard said the idea for the installation was not only to bring light to Indigenous remains in museums but also wanting to highlight ‘white tokenism.’
“If you’re prepared to change your Facebook picture to a blackfella filter on Invasion Day, or stand up at the beginning of a meeting and say ‘always was and always will be Aboriginal land’ … what are you physically going to do for Aboriginal people in this country?” he said.
“It’s perceived that Australia’s changed because of all the tokenism on social media, and people can perceive that as real change, but really, is it?”
Mr Maynard will now go through an interview process with all the people that have responded and said there are various factors he will consider.
“There are some younger people, but let’s face it, I’m 42, so I’m probably going to beat them to the end, so they are probably not suitable. I’d like to finish this work myself one day.”
The installation ‘Relics Art’ will feature in November’s Hobart Current arts festival.
Mr Maynard said he was surprised by support from the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery and the Hobart City Council.
“It was easier than I thought … I thought they would laugh at me … but they were really excited by it,” he said.
Listen to the full interview with the Palawa artist below.