COFA Talks

This COFA Talk marks the 224^th anniversary of the day the British Empire established its outpost convict colony in Sydney, on May 27, 1788. It seems timely to discuss whether or not Aboriginal ways of seeing have managed to change the way non-Aboriginal Australians see the land. Or are they simply appropriating something which is not theirs?

Gordon Hookey is a Waanyi man, hailing from Cloncurry in northwest Queensland. In 1994, he graduated from COFA with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Hookey has participated in many national and international artist residencies. His work is held in the collections of many significant institutions, both in Australia and overseas.

Djon Mundine is a member of the Bandjalung people of northern NSW. He is currently undertaking a PhD in Visual Culture at COFA. Mundine is a curator, activist, writer, and occasional artist. He is well known as the concept curator for the 1988 Aboriginal Memorial installation permanently exhibited at the NGA. His recent curatorial project, Cold Eels and Distant Thoughts, is touring nationally

Peter Sharp is a Lecturer in painting and drawing in COFA’s School of Art. He has both Bachelor of Art Education and a Masters of Fine Arts degrees from the College. Sharp’s work is represented in numerous public institutions and corporate collections. Recently, Hazelhurst Regional Gallery hosted a major survey show spanning 13 years of Sharp’s work.