Wulgurukaba & Bindal Country (Townsville),Warrgamay, Nywaigi & Bandjin Country (Hinchinbrook)
Both Ways: Gail Mabo
Gail Mabo
'A billboard exhibition illuminating First Nations perspectives of 'place' in North Queensland.'
Using the ubiquitous and popular mode of commuter advertising, the billboard, this exhibition illuminates First Nations stories of the lands traversed between Warrgamay, Nywaigi & Bandjin Country (Hinchinbrook) through Wulgurukaba and Bindal Country (Townsville) to Gudjal Country (Charters Towers). Both Ways brings together contemporary artwork and archival images to explore the larger narratives of Indigenous Australia, highlighting histories and voices that are often unheard in popular forums in North Queensland.
About the Artist
Gail Mabo
Language Group: Piadram
Country: Mer (Murray Island)
Gail Mabo is the daughter of Eddie Koiki Mabo and Bonita Mabo. She is a founding member of the Murris in Ink Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artist collective. Gail's work has been featured in solo and group exhibitions in Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Canopy Arts, Fireworks Gallery, Brisbane, Umbrella Studio and the James Cook University Library in Townsville. Her work is in private and public collections including, Townsville City Council, University of Western Sydney, the National Gallery Victoria, QAGOMA, and the State Library Queensland. Gail’s work will be included in a group exhibition at CIAF 2012 in the Umbrella Studio display. In 2013, Gail and the Murris in Ink printmaker group were commissioned by Queensland Health to create a series of mono prints for the new Townsville General Hospital expansion. In 2014 Gail received another major commission reproducing linocut prints to create two 6 x 4m murals for the James Cook University campus in Singapore. In 2014 Gail was the first Indigenous artist from North Queensland to be invited to exhibit her solo exhibition, Mabo Kara Art, at the Australian High Commission, Singapore.
Gail Mabo was honoured in 2017 by the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair as the chosen featured artist. Her work was collected at the fair by the National Gallery of Victoria. Mabo then won the Innovation Award prize for the same work which honoured her father and their country – Mer Island, in celebration of 25 years of the Mabo decision in the High Court of Australia. Eddie was also honoured this year by having a star named after him – Koiki. In 2017 and 2018, she co-curated the exhibition Legacy: Reflections on Mabo which premiered in Townsville in 2019 and is now on a four year national tour through Visions Australia’s program.
Event Information
Location Details
This billboard exhibition will feature six billboards, with three along the Bruce Highway from Wulgurukaba and Bindal Country (Townsville) to Warrgamay, Nywaigi & Bandjin Country (Hinchinbrook), and three along the Flinders Highway from Wulgurukaba and Bindal Country (Townsville) to Gudjal Country (Charters Towers).
