[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ link=” linktarget=” link_hover=” padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background=’bg_color’ background_color=” background_gradient_color1=” background_gradient_color2=” background_gradient_direction=’vertical’ src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=” mobile_breaking=” mobile_display=” av_uid=’av-dfs1m’]
[av_heading heading=’Q + A: Blak Douglas’ tag=’h1′ link_apply=” link=’manually,http://’ link_target=” style=’blockquote modern-quote modern-centered’ size=” subheading_active=” subheading_size=’15’ margin=” margin_sync=’true’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” id=” custom_class=” av_uid=’av-k7wry9hx’ admin_preview_bg=”][/av_heading]
[/av_one_full][av_one_fifth first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ link=” linktarget=” link_hover=” padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background=’bg_color’ background_color=” background_gradient_color1=” background_gradient_color2=” background_gradient_direction=’vertical’ src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=” mobile_breaking=” mobile_display=” av_uid=’av-850x’][/av_one_fifth]
[av_three_fifth min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ link=” linktarget=” link_hover=” padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background=’bg_color’ background_color=” background_gradient_color1=” background_gradient_color2=” background_gradient_direction=’vertical’ src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=” mobile_breaking=” mobile_display=” av_uid=’av-5jx9′]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” id=” custom_class=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” av_uid=’av-jgw048t9′ admin_preview_bg=”]
THE WORK OF BLAK DOUGLAS IS POWERFULLY POLITICAL AND DRENCHED IN PARODY.
[/av_textblock]
[av_hr class=’custom’ height=’50’ shadow=’no-shadow’ position=’center’ custom_border=’av-border-fat’ custom_width=’50px’ custom_border_color=” custom_margin_top=’30px’ custom_margin_bottom=’30px’ icon_select=’no’ custom_icon_color=” icon=’ue808′ font=’entypo-fontello’ av_uid=’av-2mw5′ custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=”]
[/av_three_fifth][av_one_fifth min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ link=” linktarget=” link_hover=” padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background=’bg_color’ background_color=” background_gradient_color1=” background_gradient_color2=” background_gradient_direction=’vertical’ src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=” mobile_breaking=” mobile_display=” av_uid=’av-38az’][/av_one_fifth]
[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ link=” linktarget=” link_hover=” padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background=’bg_color’ background_color=” background_gradient_color1=” background_gradient_color2=” background_gradient_direction=’vertical’ src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=” mobile_breaking=” mobile_display=” av_uid=’av-fbgru’]
[av_masonry_gallery ids=’13433,13434,13435′ items=’3′ columns=’3′ paginate=’none’ size=’fixed masonry’ orientation=” gap=’large’ overlay_fx=’active’ animation=’active’ container_links=’active’ caption_elements=’title’ caption_styling=’overlay’ caption_display=’on-hover’ color=” custom_bg=” av-medium-columns=” av-small-columns=” av-mini-columns=” id=” custom_class=” av_uid=’av-jgyb1oxr’]
[av_hr class=’invisible’ height=’50’ shadow=’no-shadow’ position=’center’ custom_border=’av-border-fat’ custom_width=’50px’ custom_border_color=” custom_margin_top=’30px’ custom_margin_bottom=’30px’ icon_select=’no’ custom_icon_color=” icon=’ue808′ font=’entypo-fontello’ av_uid=’av-jgwymecw’ custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=”]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” id=” custom_class=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” av_uid=’av-jgvzw7no’ admin_preview_bg=”]
How would you describe your work?
Parody, irony and truth [which] equates to twisting the dagger into the spine of overt nationalism, conservatism and denialism with the colony. That’s what I try to achieve through my art and people should know that.
Where are you based?
I’ve just moved to a large studio space in Marrickville, a thriving hub for artists who’ve typically felt the wrath of gentrification within the inner-city suburbs.
How did you first fall in love with art?
When I met the delightful Wollongong based Aboriginal artist Kevin Butler who was on a paid residency creating work in the basement of the Australian Museum. I was immediately captivated by such a life. I’ve been practicing commercially for two decades now.
What is your process?
I use predominantly synthetic polymer paints and lots of 3M tape on canvas. I begin by prepping background skies using masking tape. A lot of my relief is created by dolloping on liters of paint, whilst the canvas is horizontal. My signature cracked effect cures best under a slow moving ceiling fan overnight. I return in the morning and VOILA!!! Time to add the key lines… I feel my most creative after my second cup of coffee and before the first phone call. I typically spend seven to 10 hours in the studio each day and I always listen to the radio which I oscillate between FBI and 2SER.
What have you been working on recently?
I’m mid-way through the Archibald, Wynne & Sulman entries for this year. I’m also illustrating a children’s book titled Finding our Heart authored by the great Thomas Mayor about the 2017 Uluru Statement.
What themes are evident in your work?
Social justice commentary and a poignant stance on challenging the paternalistic status quo regarding the gross negligent historic treatment of First Nations Peoples. My subject matter is a mash up of ’Strayan iconology, colloquialisms and factual imagery. I find my inspiration in far right, obscene media shock jocks, police brutality and any time I see an Aussie flag hanging in the window of a suburban abode.
Where can people find your work?
Boomalli Aboriginal Artists [Sydney], Aboriginal Art Directory [online], Art Atrium [Sydney], JEFA Gallery [Byron Bay] and Nanda Hobbs [Sydney].
[/av_textblock]
[av_hr class=’custom’ height=’50’ shadow=’no-shadow’ position=’center’ custom_border=’av-border-fat’ custom_width=’50px’ custom_border_color=” custom_margin_top=’30px’ custom_margin_bottom=’30px’ icon_select=’no’ custom_icon_color=” icon=’ue808′ font=’entypo-fontello’ av_uid=’av-jgwymecw’ custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=”]
[av_social_share title=’Share this story’ style=’minimal’ buttons=” av_uid=’av-jgwyjez8′ custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=”]
[av_hr class=’invisible’ height=’50’ shadow=’no-shadow’ position=’center’ custom_border=’av-border-fat’ custom_width=’50px’ custom_border_color=” custom_margin_top=’30px’ custom_margin_bottom=’30px’ icon_select=’no’ custom_icon_color=” icon=’ue808′ font=’entypo-fontello’ av_uid=’av-jgwymecw’ custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=”]
[/av_one_full][av_one_third first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ link=” linktarget=” link_hover=” padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background=’bg_color’ background_color=” background_gradient_color1=” background_gradient_color2=” background_gradient_direction=’vertical’ src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=” mobile_breaking=” mobile_display=” av_uid=’av-7uyf’][/av_one_third]
[av_one_third min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ link=” linktarget=” link_hover=” padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background=’bg_color’ background_color=” background_gradient_color1=” background_gradient_color2=” background_gradient_direction=’vertical’ src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=” mobile_breaking=” mobile_display=” av_uid=’av-4qt7′]
[av_heading tag=’h3′ padding=’10’ heading=’Related Stories’ color=” style=’blockquote modern-quote modern-centered’ custom_font=” size=” subheading_active=” subheading_size=’15’ custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=” av-desktop-hide=” av-medium-hide=” av-small-hide=” av-mini-hide=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” margin=” av_uid=’av-9me4y’][/av_heading]
[/av_one_third]
[av_one_third min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ link=” linktarget=” link_hover=” padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background=’bg_color’ background_color=” background_gradient_color1=” background_gradient_color2=” background_gradient_direction=’vertical’ src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=” mobile_breaking=” mobile_display=” av_uid=’av-315r’][/av_one_third]
[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ link=” linktarget=” link_hover=” padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background=’bg_color’ background_color=” background_gradient_color1=” background_gradient_color2=” background_gradient_direction=’vertical’ src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=” mobile_breaking=” mobile_display=” av_uid=’av-bmqzu’]
[av_blog blog_type=’taxonomy’ link=’post_tag,2484,1780,33′ date_filter=” date_filter_start=” date_filter_end=” date_filter_format=’yy/mm/dd’ blog_style=’blog-grid’ bloglist_width=” columns=’3′ contents=’excerpt_read_more’ content_length=’content’ preview_mode=’auto’ image_size=’portfolio’ items=’6′ offset=’no_duplicates’ paginate=’yes’ conditional=” alb_description=” id=” custom_class=” av_uid=’av-jgw0l1z3′]
[/av_one_full][av_hr class=’invisible’ height=’50’ shadow=’no-shadow’ position=’center’ custom_border=’av-border-fat’ custom_width=’50px’ custom_border_color=” custom_margin_top=’30px’ custom_margin_bottom=’30px’ icon_select=’no’ custom_icon_color=” icon=’ue808′ font=’entypo-fontello’ av_uid=’av-jgwymecw’ custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=”]
[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ link=” linktarget=” link_hover=” padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background=’bg_color’ background_color=” background_gradient_color1=” background_gradient_color2=” background_gradient_direction=’vertical’ src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=” mobile_breaking=” mobile_display=” av_uid=’av-45u7′]
[av_heading heading=’Related Artworks’ tag=’h3′ link_apply=” link=” link_target=” style=’blockquote modern-quote modern-centered’ size=” subheading_active=” subheading_size=’15’ margin=” padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” custom_class=” id=” admin_preview_bg=” av-desktop-hide=” av-medium-hide=” av-small-hide=” av-mini-hide=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=”][/av_heading]
[av_blog blog_type=’taxonomy’ link=’pa_artist,1850′ date_filter=” date_filter_start=” date_filter_end=” date_filter_format=’yy/mm/dd’ blog_style=’blog-grid’ bloglist_width=” columns=’3′ contents=’title’ content_length=’content’ preview_mode=’custom’ image_size=’woocommerce_thumbnail’ items=’6′ offset=’no_duplicates’ paginate=’yes’ conditional=” alb_description=” id=” custom_class=” av_uid=’av-jgw0l1z3′]
[/av_one_full]