Land Rights, Be Informed, Be Involved, Be Inspired
Date2009
Object number00055230
NamePoster
MediumColour screenprint, ink on paper
DimensionsOverall: 835 × 595 mm
Image: 835 × 595 mm
Image: 835 × 595 mm
Copyright© Chips Mackinolty
ClassificationsPosters and postcards
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionPoster by Chips Mackinolty titled 'Land Rights, Be Informed, Be Involved, Be Inspired'. Designed for the NSW Aboriginal Land Council State Conference 2009.
HistoryChips Mackinolty's innovative propaganda has flourished for over four decades as he rides the waves of change in technology, writing and cultural politics. In the flourishing art scenes of the 1970's and 1980's, Chips and other poster makers from the Tin Sheds at Sydney University created the art that promoted the great women’s, Aboriginal, environmental, heritage, gay and lesbian rights social movements. When Earthworks Poster Collective dissolved in 1979, Chips and many of its artists took up the cause of fighting for Aboriginal land rights, working as art advisors, artists and activists. He worked as an art adviser to Aboriginal art centres in Katherine (Mimi Aboriginal Arts and Crafts, 1981 - 1985) and Mutitjulu (Maruku Arts, 1985).
Since the early 70's Chips MacKinolty posters appeared on walls throughout Sydney and became one of the most identifiable images of the decade, helping to politicise a whole generation. His work reflects total social commitment, one with a gift for the memorable image.
Chips MacKinolty was recognised as an exceptional artist with the National Gallery of Australia acquiring some 247 of his works.
Artist statement:
"It was a long time ago! I was approached by, from memory, Barbara Flick and Kevin Cook from Tranby College to help fundraise through a Balmain Town Hall Concert.
A number of us at the Tin Sheds had organised successful dances there before hand. This was before the NSW Land Council itself: it was for a conference that led to its establishment some time later (from distant memory not formally until the establishment of the Aboriginal land rights act a few years later). It was a successful night and raised over $1000 for the conference--it may not seem like a lot but it was a fair bit of money back then.
The image, of course, was a "steal" of the famous image of marines landing at Iwo Jima, but with blackfellas planting a somewhat different flag. it wasn't the first, but among the first uses of the flag's image as part of a popular propaganda campaign.
The image was used by the NSW Land Council for their 25th anniversary--the image you have. But it was also used by the NLC/CLC as a T-Shirt for the 1988 Bicentenary march in Sydney and as a design for a front cover of Land Rights News at the same time with the slogan "White Australia has a Black History", which in turn was a slogan coined by the late Rob Riley (then working at the NLC).
Of course it has also been "borrowed" by people all over the internet, including as FB profiles. I've never refused reproduction, and have occasionally been paid a few bob for it--but just happy that it is one of a few images I have created that still reverberate 40 years on. Which is why it was so nice that you and the Maritime Museum got in touch!"Significance'Land Rights, Be Informed, Be Involved, Be Inspired' highlights the land rights movement of a demonstration with a desire of understanding that the country was occupied by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people before the arrival of the Tall Ships in 1788. The symbolism of the planting of the flag is another perspective of taking 'possession by planting a flag' (not dis-similar to the raising of the American Flag on Iwo Jima).
