Contemporary Artist Peter James Hewitt
Emerging artist Peter James Hewitt is a painter who explores subjective notions of koori hybrid identity through the medium of paint. His work explores contemporary forms of narrative and language through gestural mark making and colours which reconnect to the traditional custodians of the land.
Major art shows and accomplishments of late are the 2007 and 2008 ‘Aboriginal Section Winner’ in the Fishers Ghost Art Prize. Finalist in the ‘Sulman Prize’, AGNSW, ‘Telstra National Indigenous Art Prize’, Darwin and NSW Indigenous Parliament House Prize 2008 and 2009. In 2009, Hewitt has developed a relationship with United Galleries in Sydney, where he currently has work in the stockroom.
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'BunkerShed Studios' Artist Statement
The images are a visual language, depicting a journey of an autonomous Aboriginal male. They identify as being A&TSI, currently question 4&5 on many forms you may have filled out. The work is empowered by our peoples past and present culture, but have little true connections to family lineage, traditions and language.
The work in the past has reaped of a fragmented indiginality. It sought what an urban Aboriginal artist was. Individualism and a personal journey were studied. Recently the works mark-making has been influenced by contemporary Indigenous issues, whilst incorporating post modern conventions to narrate stories of the autonomous Aboriginal person. Through this show, it edges to a clearer vision of what is. It realises its story is just as important as others. It fits somewhere in between being indigenous, koori, white aboriginal, black fella and the exotic savage.
For this show, it has sought a loose label for itself: Contemporary Koori Abstract Expression Mixed Media Manipulations.
My people come from Jerrinja, from the Yuin Nation of the south coast of NSW.
'Authentic' Artist Statement
Q5: Are you A&TSI?
What a question to be slapped with. Filling out my first employment form I learnt I was truly aboriginal. I got to tick, Yes.
"An Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander is a person of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent who identifies as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and is accepted as such by the community in which he (she) lives."
There is more to Q5.
In responding to ‘Authenticity’, notions of origin and commitment are evoked. My origins are with the Jerringa people (Orient Point, NSW) of the Yuan Nation. My commitments lie with the Aboriginal students I support in my teaching role and in the continual search for the knowledge of what it is to be Aboriginal from my perspective.
"Full blood is a word used to mean someone who through heredity is close to what is termed 'traditional’...I do not believe that the mere fact of 'blood' denotes a possible plentitude of an original Indiginality... Indiginality includes a learnt portion, and to stress degrees of 'blood' is in effect playing the Master's game, which is always one dealing with possession, legality, paternity and caste."
Mudrooroo
My artwork captures my Indiginality. I want the audience to suppose my work a visual language in which the aesthetics play on assumed traditional Aboriginal motifs. It uses conventional non-representational mark making to tells a narrative of contemporary everyday Indigenous/Aboriginal/Koori/black, yellow and white fella life.
Emerging artist Peter James Hewitt is a painter who explores subjective notions of koori hybrid identity through the medium of paint. His work explores contemporary forms of narrative and language through gestural mark making and colours which reconnect to the traditional custodians of the land.
Major art shows and accomplishments of late are the 2007 and 2008 ‘Aboriginal Section Winner’ in the Fishers Ghost Art Prize. Finalist in the ‘Sulman Prize’, AGNSW, ‘Telstra National Indigenous Art Prize’, Darwin and NSW Indigenous Parliament House Prize 2008 and 2009. In 2009, Hewitt has developed a relationship with United Galleries in Sydney, where he currently has work in the stockroom.
____________________________________________________________________
'BunkerShed Studios' Artist Statement
The images are a visual language, depicting a journey of an autonomous Aboriginal male. They identify as being A&TSI, currently question 4&5 on many forms you may have filled out. The work is empowered by our peoples past and present culture, but have little true connections to family lineage, traditions and language.
The work in the past has reaped of a fragmented indiginality. It sought what an urban Aboriginal artist was. Individualism and a personal journey were studied. Recently the works mark-making has been influenced by contemporary Indigenous issues, whilst incorporating post modern conventions to narrate stories of the autonomous Aboriginal person. Through this show, it edges to a clearer vision of what is. It realises its story is just as important as others. It fits somewhere in between being indigenous, koori, white aboriginal, black fella and the exotic savage.
For this show, it has sought a loose label for itself: Contemporary Koori Abstract Expression Mixed Media Manipulations.
My people come from Jerrinja, from the Yuin Nation of the south coast of NSW.
'Authentic' Artist Statement
Q5: Are you A&TSI?
What a question to be slapped with. Filling out my first employment form I learnt I was truly aboriginal. I got to tick, Yes.
"An Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander is a person of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent who identifies as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and is accepted as such by the community in which he (she) lives."
There is more to Q5.
In responding to ‘Authenticity’, notions of origin and commitment are evoked. My origins are with the Jerringa people (Orient Point, NSW) of the Yuan Nation. My commitments lie with the Aboriginal students I support in my teaching role and in the continual search for the knowledge of what it is to be Aboriginal from my perspective.
"Full blood is a word used to mean someone who through heredity is close to what is termed 'traditional’...I do not believe that the mere fact of 'blood' denotes a possible plentitude of an original Indiginality... Indiginality includes a learnt portion, and to stress degrees of 'blood' is in effect playing the Master's game, which is always one dealing with possession, legality, paternity and caste."
Mudrooroo
My artwork captures my Indiginality. I want the audience to suppose my work a visual language in which the aesthetics play on assumed traditional Aboriginal motifs. It uses conventional non-representational mark making to tells a narrative of contemporary everyday Indigenous/Aboriginal/Koori/black, yellow and white fella life.
Current and Upcoming Exhibitions
Affordable Art
29th-20th October 2010
Wollongong City Gallery
Solo Show
27th August – 30th September
The Hanging Space Art Gallery
Rear 409-411 Princes Highway, Woonona
Solo Show
Jan 2012-TBA
University of Wollongong | Nowra Campus
George Evans Drive, West Nowra
Affordable Art
29th-20th October 2010
Wollongong City Gallery
Solo Show
27th August – 30th September
The Hanging Space Art Gallery
Rear 409-411 Princes Highway, Woonona
Solo Show
Jan 2012-TBA
University of Wollongong | Nowra Campus
George Evans Drive, West Nowra