Resistance and Refusal
resistance: the act or power of resisting, opposing, or withstanding; refusal: an act or instance of refusing.
There have been countless role models who have, over time, collectively given rise to new forms of conscious, overt, subliminal and subversive activism that have significantly changed our history. From the early Indigenous resistance warriors to the countless others who waged active campaigns fighting for the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, resistance in all its multifaceted forms has been, and will always be, present.
From the past to the present, Indigenous artists have shown great courage and integrity by defying convention and challenging ideologies on what constitutes Indigenous art and identity. By resisting rigid notions of what Indigenous art is, refusing populist views of history and challenging stereotypes, artists continue to use their art as visual tools of resistance, replacing physical weaponry with wit, satire and juxtaposition to challenge and confront. Through visualising their stories artists continue to challenge and raise awareness and open conversations about the shared histories of this nation.
Reko Rennie OA_RR 2017. Courtesy of the artist and Blackartprojects. Photos: Justin McManus
