Author(s): Fiona Foley

INDIGENOUS

In a bold and unprecedented project, acclaimed international artist Fiona Foley curated a cutting-edge installation in the University of Queensland's sandstone Great Court. Universities have traditionally been elite institutions, overlooking and undervaluing the contributions of Indigenous thinkers, activists and artists. This history is etched into the walls of the Great Court, with anachronistic concepts of humanity and racial difference revealed in many of the friezes and sculptural reliefs. Fiona Foley and her team of eight Aboriginal artists aimed to challenge these concepts. The 'Courting Blakness' exhibition reclaimed this historically white space, creating a visual dialogue between contemporary Aboriginal art and colonial-inspired architecture. It also sparked important conversations about issues that matter to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Featuring striking images as well as essays by artists, curators and academics, Courting Blackness is a stylish and comprehensive tribute to this innovative project.