We are excited to announce representation of Darren Blackman.
Darren is a proud Gureng Gureng/Gangalu man from Queensland’s central coast with Kanak South Sea Islander heritage from Vanuatu. He creates paintings, prints and textiles, incorporating carefully considered words and phrasing. His work also utilises traditional marking methods of Gureng Gureng petroglyphs (rock engraving) by scribing into wet paint, then layering stencilled text over the top in the style of the Gangulu peoples’ rock face motifs.
Darren’s debut exhibition this year, ‘Language of Intent,’ paralleled a pivotal moment in Australian history: The Voice to Parliament Referendum. Amidst the heightened tensions preceding the referendum, Blackman’s work offered considered pathways of comprehending deep-seated historical distrust and reservation in governmental policies.
Onespace Directors John Stafford & Jodie Cox state: “Through his bold text paintings created throughout the campaign, Darren conveyed a resounding message: things are far from over. Amidst the highly charged and overwhelming political air, the strength and fortitude of his work, was reassuring for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.”
Darren is the recipient of the 2023 Cairns Indigenous Art Fair Innovation Award and several of his textile works have recently been acquired by the Queensland Museum.
Photo: Ketakii Jewson-Brown. Courtesy of the artist and Onespace.
