Christian Thompson (artist)
Christian Thompson Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, University of Oxford | |
---|---|
Website | Official website |
Christian Andrew William Thompson
Early life, influences and education
Thompson was born in
Thompson had an itinerant childhood, following his father's career in the
He undertook his
While studying at Toowoomba and Melbourne, Thompson was heavily inspired by
He was an active member of the Melbourne art community, exhibiting his own work and curating group exhibitions. He undertook a curatorial internship at the
In 2009 he completed a Masters of Theatre degree at the DasArts, part of the
He moved to
Career
Thompson meditated on the relationship between form and performance, and his early works focused on the relationship to the human form. He later moved into photography and video as a means to capture the performative qualities of his textile-based sculptures and elaborate costumes.[9]
Thompson established himself in 2002 in the Australian art world with his first series, Blaks Palace, a series of photographs and giant oversized sweaters. Thompson's most notable works include his series Emotional Striptease, The Gates of Tambo and more recently his series Australian Graffiti, which are held in the collections of the National Gallery of Australia and the Art Gallery of New South Wales and AAMU in Utrecht, the Netherlands. His work deals with the nature of identity as an ever-evolving and uncharted terrain, bringing together a variety of seemingly disparate forms and themes. He undertook his first major public art project through the Future Arts Research program at the Arizona State University,[10] Dartmouth College, and Massey University International Art Residency, Wellington, New Zealand.[citation needed]
His series of photographs Lost Together was made in the Netherlands where Thompson undertook a residency program at
Exhibitions and gallery holdings
He has presented his photographs, videos and performance work in numerous solo and group exhibitions nationally and internationally. He was the first Aboriginal studio artist at Gertrude Street Contemporary Art Spaces 2006–2007,
His work was included in the
His 2010 series King Billy is held by the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts. The work a tribute to his great-great-grandfather, King Billy of Bonnie Doon Lorne.[4]
In 2011 Thompson undertook international residencies at the
Thompson's video work HEAT 2010 was included in the
His 2011 video work Dhagunyilangu, meaning brother, employs a British male opera singer to interpret the song written in
In 2014 he became the first recipient of the
In January 2015, Oxford's Trinity College took down the old paintings in its dining room for the first time in over 400 years to display an exhibition of Thompson's work.[8]
The first survey of his work, an exhibition called Ritual Intimacy, presented in association with
From May 2018 he worked on his first
Recognition
- 2010: Awarded the inaugural Charlie Perkins Scholarship to the University of Oxford to undertake his Doctorate of Philosophy (Fine Art), and was among the first cohort of Australian Aboriginal people to attend Oxford University in its 900-year history.[6][3]
- 2010: Shortlisted for the Western Australian Indigenous Art Awards, run by the Art Gallery of Western Australia.[citation needed]
- 2012: Honourable mention, William and Winifred Bowness Photography Prize[12]
- 2012: Finalist, The Anne Landa Award[12]
- 2016: ACME Studio London Residency, Australian Council for the Arts[12]
- 2017: Awarded the inaugural Mordant Family VR Commission at ACMI[12]
- 2018: Made an Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia in the 2018 Queen's Birthday Honours (Australia), for "outstanding service to the visual arts as a sculptor, photographer, video and performance artist, and as a role model for young Indigenous artists".[6]
- 2019: Research affiliate, Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford
References
- ^ "Christian Thompson". MGA: the Australian home of photography. Archived from the original on 4 February 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
- ^ "Christian Thompson". Monash Gallery of Art: the Australian home of photography. Archived from the original on 4 February 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f Carey, Patrick (23 May 2018). "Exhibition charts Christian Thompson's ongoing wanderlust". ABC News. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
- ^ a b "Christian Thompson: Biography". Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA). 2010. Archived from the original on 13 April 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
- ^ a b c d e Thompson, Christian (10 November 2014). "Christian Thompson interview: 'My work does not need to be read through the optical lens of my race'". Studio International (Interview). Interviewed by McKenzie, Janet. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
- ^ a b c "RMIT alumni receive Queen's Birthday honours". RMIT University. 21 June 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
- ^ a b "Christian Thompson - University of Oxford". Academia.edu (in Afrikaans). 3 August 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
- ^ a b c d Sebag-Montefiore, Clarissa (21 August 2015). "Indigenous artist forges new path". BBC News. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
- Art Gallery of NSW. 28 January 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
- ^ "F.A.R. (Future Arts Research) Launches at Arizona State University". 11 September 2008. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
- ^ "Vote Yes - An Aboriginal Thompson Project: Christian Thompson: 26 May – 10 Jun 2006". West Space. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "Christian Thompson CV". Retrieved 16 April 2020.
- ^ "Christian Thompson". 2018 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
- ^ "unDISCLOSED: 2nd National Indigenous Art Triennial". National Gallery of Australia. 19 September 2010. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
- ^ "Christian Thompson - Dhagunyilangu". Michael Reid. 27 July 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
- ^ "in the loop sept 5: quick picks & opportunities: tarrawarra biennial 2012: sonic spheres". RealTime. 4 September 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
- ^ "Christian Thompson: We Bury Our Own". Pitt Rivers Museum. 26 June 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
- ^ "New international arts residency has contemporary focus". Massey University. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
- ^ "Christian Thompson: Ritual Intimacy". UNSW Art & Design. 14 July 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
- ^ "Dr Christian Thompson AO: Bayi Gardiya (Singing Desert)". ACMI. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
Further reading
- "Andy and Oz: parallel visions: A collaboration between the National Gallery of Australia and The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh, USA". National Gallery of Australia. 30 December 2007.
- "Christian Bumbarra Thompson". Art Gallery of NSW. 28 January 2015.