"Assess the power of Bennett's appropriate symbolism in communicating meaning to an audience." |
The appropriated symbolism within the work of Indigenous artists Gordon Bennett is a powerful mechanism in communicating meaning to an audience. Bennett’s 1988 painting, “Outsider”, incorporates imagery from past artists such as Vincent van Gogh and Francisco Goya, as well as classical art motifs. These symbols allude to the violent suppression of Aboriginal people and their culture, at a time when Australia was celebrating their white identity.
Bennett has appropriated the work of post-impressionist Vincent Van Gogh, whose peaceful paintings have been recontextualised into disturbing scenes of violence. The oil painting depicts a decapitated Aboriginal figure in the very same bedroom shown in Van Gogh’s work, “Vincent’s Bedroom in Arles” (1888). The blood appears to pour from the figure, merging skywards with another appropriated image: Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” (1889). The brushstrokes of “Starry Night” are reminiscent of Aboriginal ‘dot painting’, providing another connection to the artist’s indigenous heritage for the audience to discover. The alteration of these artworks has transformed the once pleasant paintings into a work that symbolises the catastrophic past history of the Aboriginal people. The audience clearly receives this message due to the artist’s unmistakable use of symbols, such as the bloody handprints and disfigurement, which contributes to the change in tone of Van Gogh’s works. The blatant violence displayed in the work of Spanish artist Francisco Goya has been replicated by Bennett as a symbol of the artist’s emotions within “Outsider”. Like Bennett, Goya was fascinated by bizarre, disturbing imagery, often depicting scenes of mutilation and torture. Bennett’s decapitated, bloody subject in “Outsider” also confronts viewers with the reality of human behaviour and suffering. However, Goya’s stimulus was the atrocities of the Spanish War of Independence, whereas Bennett was inspired by the colonial injustices towards indigenous people in Australia. The grotesque symbolism used in the work therefore successfully instils emotions of dread and hatred, reminding the audience of a time once filled with harsh, inhuman actions. Within “Outsider”, there are symbols representing Western culture which the artist has included to portray the attitude of white Europeans. On the bed, there are two marble-like heads each with their eyes closed. Bennett has included these symbols as a means of referencing classicism – the art style that was regarded highly by Western standards during the oppression of Aboriginal people. By having their eyes closed, the sculptures are a visual portrayal of the ignorance of white culture towards indigenous arts and traditions. Gordon Bennett’s “Outsider” is a highly emotive piece that conveys various ideas through appropriate symbolism. The artist has effectively communicated his beliefs on the suppression of Aboriginal culture by combining confronting imagery with the concepts of Vincent Van Gogh, Francisco Goya and Classical art. |