An Indigenous COFA Presence

Highlights the artwork and careers of four Indigenous graduates from the University of New South Wales, College of Fine Arts: Brenda L. Croft, Peter McKenzie, Clinton Nain and Rea.

An Indigenous COFA Presence is a celebration of the personal and professional successes made by four indigenous COFA graduates. The exhibition attempts to address the imbalance in the tertiary education sector where, although there is a growing number of Indigenous staff and students, there remains an issue of inequality and a lack of opportunity for most indigenous Australians. In promoting COFA's Indigenous graduates the exhibition aims to help rectify this situation and encourage future Indigenous students.

The exhibition is part of a journey that aims to make personal academic achievement more possible for those from Indigenous communities. Responding for the first time in an exhibition, Indigenous graduates of COFA comment on the institution through written accounts, and concise bodies of artwork. As with all indigenous art, the work in this exhibition is multi layered. It reflects personal issues as well as providing a more collective comment on the state of Indigenous education.

Exhibition curator and COFA graduate, Jonathan Jones maintains 'we are creating a dialogue with future Indigenous COFA students by creating role models. This is leading by example, a primary method of Aboriginal education, and again a way of achieving academic results by providing Indigenous students with first hand experience and real outcomes.'

An Indigenous COFA Presence is a celebration of the success and strength of Indigenous people in today's society.