Description

Artist’s Statement

Ned Kelly’s helmeted figure replaces the Aboriginal warriors in this reworking of this iconic 19th century etching.

Captain Cook’s boat-people arriving at Kurnell in 1770 are met with resistance by the divisive bushranger from the 1880’s. Kelly, who is often associated with xenophobia, is caught repelling the English arrival, in what amounts to a diabolical contradiction. These two powerful figures of Australian colonial history are forever in conflict over the rich prize of terra nullius (nobody’s land).