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Image Not Available for The Sharks
The Sharks
Image Not Available for The Sharks

The Sharks

Artist (1928-2009)
Datec 2001
Object number00037650
NamePainting
MediumAcrylic on canvas.
DimensionsOverall (Frame): 530 × 635 × 30 mm, 3.18 kg
ClassificationsArt
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionPainting by Ben Brown titled 'The Sharks'. Ben Brown is from Shoalhaven and belongs to the Yuin language group. This work was part of the 2003 Budge exhibition “Messages from the Fringe” (a satellite exhibition for the Sydney Opera House’s 2003 annual Message Sticks program) at the Walkabout Gallery in Leichhardt, Sydney.HistoryBen Brown is from the Shoalhaven district in New South Wales. He did not pick up a paint brush until after retirement. As he is quoted as saying, "you can only do so much gardening or looking after grand-kids". So together with his late wife, Mona the couple decided to study Aboriginal Art and Cultural Practice at Bomaderry TAFE. His work is highly colourful and depicts places and stories of importance to the Shoalhaven Aboriginal community. He also "paints what he see's", with some work depicting contemporary life and daily incidences around the coastline of the south coast. Rueben Brown, also known as Ben Brown, was born on 2 June 1928 at Brookvale near Sydney. "I lived in Brookvale until I was two years old. When I was two years old, we moved to the Shoalhaven area, where I lived for most of my childhood. I also lived in Penrith for about 13 years where I educated my children and worked for the Sydney Water Board. In 1984 I moved back to the Shoalhaven area. When I turned 65 years old I went on the aged pension and had nothing to do because I couldn't work, so I decided that I would go to TAFE. At TAFE I started to do academics, but I felt that I was too old to do much good in academic subjects, so I gave it up and started to study art. In art, I had some really good teachers such as Val Law and Joe DiCarlo who taught me the fundamentals of art. To start my paintings I have to have a brainstorm on colour, texture and images of what I am going to paint. This could take several days and nights. My wife Mona and I have 10 children and many grandchildren. Some live close by and some live in other places. When everyone comes together at family gatherings it is an important and special time in all our lives."SignificanceThis painting by Ben Brown is part of a body of works that record the history and experience of Indigenous men of urban and regional New South Wales.
These works vary in mediums but all highlight the rich diversity of New South Wales Indigenous artists and their connections and land and family histories. Some recall the loss of this feeling of connection whether it is to traditional lands or a mission settlement. Many mission's and settlements in New South Wales were alongside major
waterways, away from white Australians and others.