INERTIA

A vision for Design in Australia: The Indigenous Voice.

SHORN — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:54:02 PST

Designers have long asserted the influence of their craft on a social and political level. It can be demonstrated (from Jazz, to Nazism) where a visual aesthetic has offered more than a colour scheme throughout the course of history and where the tone of communication has galvanised a message. In this new era, we as professional image makers and thinkers in Australia should be asking what is broken, and what can we do to fix it? What can designers offer to the betterment of Australian life?

One such area of great importance is white understanding and acceptance of indigenous culture. The huge difficulty that has faced Aboriginal people is in communication. Plainly, there is a disconnection in language both spoken (heard) and unspoken (seen). This being the result of a violent and guilty past which is tolerated by most westerners with embarrassed forgetfulness and by Aboriginal people with anger and sorrow.

Western designers and artists working in Australia have, in the past, drawn from Aboriginal motifs in proclamation of our independence and individuality from Britain. It plays well for our global identity. However, the presentation of Aboriginal Culture in this way is perhaps just as damaging, given the ongoing national struggle to fully accept and respect the original owners of our country. The plagiarism of indigenous motifs and symbols in this way is simplistic and disrespectful.

Designers today should in all cases present the true sense of what being Australian means, in politically focused messages and – more importantly – in the everyday visual media. It is necessary for this to have within it, an understanding of Aboriginal culture and language. Australian design, fashion, hospitality, entertainment and especially big business should all be open to the recognition of this cultural asset as part of the make up of their visual identity. The result of this would be a collaborative achievement and Australia would benefit for the shared experience, with reconciliation as a natural progression.

The Precipice

SHORN — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 00:11:33 PDT

Trudge

SHORN — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 00:10:10 PDT

The most recent thursday gone by

SHORN — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 23:38:18 PDT

Hangin’ out. nonplussed

SHORN — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 21:01:59 PDT

Hungry Explodes. Currywurst held accountable. The finger puppets may not remember this.

LIPS

SHORN — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 16:02:22 PDT

Missed the deadline.

Lips. 2011.

Hopping mad

SHORN — Sat, 14 May 2011 01:48:15 PDT

I’ve come to NO conclusions. I’m a bad learner. I’m a good teacher. I have a bad temperature. Temperament temporary tempologous. ________ has ruined things before and it will do it again. fats domino. Minky shaw. Tim tucklbridge. Herton Agonsmite. Freidel sipplemore. Finder bugleteem. Gusty Wilson. Hi mum, I’m leaving town for a while. You can take care of the twepsnwhile I’m away?

Barbecue say: sausage farmer.

Sausage farmer.

Kebab kebab kebab kebab kebab chicken wing chicken wing chicken wing corn corn corn corn sausage sausage sausage sausage sausage sausage sausage sausage. KEBAB.

Wine & Cheese – Barefoot Bushrangers

SHORN — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 00:16:52 PDT

Sean wears: Sloppy Joe and Socks by Paddy’s Markets, Salvos, American Apparel, Shoes by JIL SANDERFUCK. Eloise wears: Parka by APC ($$$), Cunt road, Salvos, Harvey Gorman. Lawrenzo wears: Shall by Bundanoon Country Chic, Rivers, Shoes by RM Willies. Montana wears: Vinnies, Vinnies, Salvos, Shoes by Poop Toe, Accessories by Bundaberg.

Paddy’s

SHORN — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 15:09:51 PDT

Foet

SHORN — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 18:24:38 PDT

Foet (Dir.Cut) from Ian Fischer on Vimeo.