Artist:

Maree Clarke

My work is about regenerating cultural practices, making people aware of our culture, and that we are really strong in our culture, identity and knowledge. We haven’t lost anything; some of these practices have just been laying dormant for a while.

The traditional body adornments such as the reed necklaces and kangaroo tooth necklaces are authentically reproduced but are supersized to reflect the scale of the loss of our knowledge of cultural practices. The production techniques are reclaimed through my

examination of anthropological text and photography held in academic institutions around the world.

I love to go about this process. I don’t do a lot of sketches, I think ... I think a lot ... and once I have the artwork finished in my head ... I will then make the work. I like to look at new ways to tell stories through art.

Photo: Jon Augier/Museum Victoria

Maree Clarke (Mutti Mutti/Yorta Yorta/Boon Wurrung peoples)
Black river reed necklace with Galah feathers 2017
Courtesy of the artist and Vivien Anderson Gallery

Maree Clarke (Mutti Mutti/Yorta Yorta/Boon Wurrung peoples)
Made from Memory (Nan’s house) 2017
Purchased 2017 in recognition of the 50th Anniversary of the 1967 Referendum

Search for works by this artist in the national collection.

Maree Clarke (Mutti Mutti/Yorta Yorta/Boon Wurrung peoples)