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Community Council Chamber

Artist Garth Lena (1967)

Date2013

Object number00054528

NameSculpture

MediumSteel

DimensionsOverall: 1940 × 1000 × 900 mm
Overall: 1890 × 1050 × 960 mm

ClassificationsArt

Credit LineANMM Collection Purchased with funds from the Sid Faithfull and Christine Sadler program supporting Contemporary Indigenous Maritime Heritage in Far North Queensland and the Torres Strait Islands through the ANMM Foundation

Terms

DescriptionA large black metal sculpture titled 'Community Council Chamber' by Minjunbul sculptor Garth Lena (also known as Garth Rotumah). Country - Fingal Language Groups - Minjunbul and Bundjalung The sculpture compromises of two tiers. On the first tier, a piece resembling a ship with an anchor tilted to one side and construction wrapped with chains, industrial- looking forms and sharp metal shapes, suggests the weight of civilisation approaching. Around the ship big metal spikes representing the dislocation and cultural confusion that has followed from colonisation. On the second tier, a platform with people standing surrounded by metal spikes, representing a council meeting of clansman contemplating momentous change. They stand, armed with spears while next to them,standing on a pole, is a big black bird with its wings raised to the sky and a long spiky tail. HistoryThis work by Garth Lena was produced for East Coast Encounter, a multi-arts initiative involving Australian Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists, writers and songwriters to re-imagine the encounter by Lieutenant James Cook and his crew with Indigenous people in 1770. Cook's voyage along the Australian east coast has become central to national historical narratives. The East Coast Encounter project asked artists to re-envisage this seminal journey by imaginatively exploring moments of contact between two world views during these encounters. It also brought these events into the present by incorporating artists' reflections on their relevance today, and their responses to visits to significant contact locations. Topics such as encounter, impact, differing perspectives, nature and culture and views of country are investigated. 'Community Council Camber' features a council meeting of clansman contemplating momentous change. They stand, armed with spears on a dark, spiky construction wrapped with chains, industrial- looking forms and sharp metal shapes. The harsh entangled objects suggest the weight of civilisation, dislocation and cultural confusion that has followed from colonisation.SignificanceThis sculpture by Garth Lena is significant in providing an Indigenous view of first contact and European occupation of Australia.