Ian Waldron: My mother’s country
Moving image: Explore cultures and art making around the world
"Rather than commiserate a sense of loss, Ian celebrates what he has held onto".
Duration
29.45
Director
Peter and Andrea Hylands
Cinematography
Andrea Hylands
In this film, the Creative cowboy films crew, travel to Queensland’s Gulf Country with artist Ian Waldron and we visit Delta Downs Station.
Creative cowboy films would like to thank Ian Waldron; Katrina Chapman; Delta Downs Station; the Kurtjar people, Queensland, Australia. Bynoe Art Centre, Normanton; centre artists Stephanie Owens; Marie Burns; Freda Gilbert; Shenane Jago; Rod Lucas. Delta Downs Station team, Paul Edwards; John Kerr; Anthony Savo; Roberta Casey; James Beasley; Jackson Callope; Ronald Edwards; Leroy Burns; Ronald Beasley; Arlene Casey. Helicopter pilots, Shane Wormsley; Des Butler. Michael Eather, FireWorks Gallery, Brisbane.
Any unauthorised copying, editing, exhibition, renting, exchange, hiring, lending, public performances, diffusion or broadcasting of this film are all prohibited without the permission of Creative cowboy films. Creative cowboy and its logo are a trademark of Creative cowboy Pty Ltd. Artwork images copyright Ian Waldron.
For the past twenty years Ian Waldron has been creating a visual record of life on the Gulf of Carpentaria, in particular the life of people on his traditional Kurtjar country.
Ian’s paintings of contemporary life on the cattle station Delta Downs, his personal and clan totems, and landscapes depicting the hugely diverse geography of the area, have been making their way to exhibitions in Australia, the United States and Germany. His artistic exploration of his people and place has not only brought him individual recognition, but also contributed to a growing awareness of Indigenous culture on the Gulf.
His traditional homeland is a constant source of inspiration from which he draws the subject matter for his artworks. There is honesty in his portrayal of country, and everyday contemporary life is portrayed with equal sensitivity as historical and traditional stories.
For this artist and his people, labour, industry, ownership in the Western sense, and Native title have all been integral to ongoing connection to land. Ian Waldron’s practice is not just inspired or about his country, it is deeply rooted and connected with contemporary events and people, with his own practice feeding into the growth of the Bynoe Art Centre where many more people are now creating Gulf art.
Travelling to Normanton each month for a week, time is divided between the studio and field trips. Packing up the billycan, tucker-box and art materials and travelling to different locations on country is a break for everyone. Sometimes time is spent by the Gilbert River drawing and fishing, out on country looking for timber for sculpture or taking photographs. These excursions are times of exchange between artists and mentor, creating space to share culture and life experience.
Ian Waldron recognises the importance of being outside the studio to building a relationship with his countrymen and fellow artists.
“Time on country puts us on another plane of interaction, common ground where we can all be more relaxed”.
It is also the best environment for knowledge to be exchanged. Natural cues abound and storytelling is spontaneous.
“Having the artists record the narrative of their works on paper in the studio is like pulling-teeth but take them onto country and talk flows freely”.
You can find out more about Ian Waldron by reading Katrina Chapman's article 'Celebrating Kurtjar culture' in the First Nations issue of the creative-i magazine. The text above is an extract from Katrina's article.
NOTE: This film contains images of a cattle muster
No items found.
Highlights from the documentary
No items found.
Related Documentaries
No items found.