Truth Tell

Artwork by Penny Evans, In Black and White, created in 2023, made of porcellaneous stoneware underglazes carving sgraffito. photo by Michelle Eabrey. In art gallery Museum of Art and Culture, yapang Lake Macquarie

To understand the present, we must confront the past. Truth Tell delves into the learned narratives of early colonisation, and the deep impacts on Aboriginal people during this period. This powerful exhibition draws from the historical accounts of events during a time of dispossession of land and disruption to cultural practices and invites an exploration of the complexities of learned histories.

Drawing inspiration from First Nations perspectives, Penny Evans, Julie Gough, Shellie Smith, James Possum Tylor and Peta Clancy uncover and re-present conflicting histories, while paying homage to the ongoing resilience and strength of Aboriginal communities.

By acknowledging the ongoing effects of colonisation, this exhibition aims to inspire conversations that foster understanding, empathy, and collective responsibility.

Curated by Shellie Smith, Lily Hodgson and Jasmine Kean.

Image: Penny Evans detail view of In Black and White, 2023, porcelaneous, stoneware, underglazes, carving, sgraffito, dimensions variable. Photo by Michelle Eabrey, courtesy of the artist.