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Photographer:
Justin Bernhaut
RMIT Photography Student
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Federation
Statement
In 1901 the new Federation of Australian, deliberately excluded
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders - why?
Always
ways, always will be Aboriginal country.
In
2001, Australia, Australians, 'celebrate', 'commemorate', 100 years
of Federation. This time Aboriginal and Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islanders are included in the festivities.
History,
present, future
Where is this country headed, beyond the new millennium?
Human
rights violations are still being perpetrated against us Kooris,
Murris, Nuga’s, Noongals, Torres Strait Islanders.
Other
people’s rights, lives, souls and minds are being abused in this
country. What to do?
Federation
ought to afford this country, yet another chance to reflect, but
we must be honest.
There are solutions here and so are tears.
We
must not lose focus: whose land?...
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Photographer:
Justin Bernhaut
RMIT Photography Student
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About
RHAPSODY IN MOTION
My research for this project highlights the lack of participation
and input into the new Federal constitution. While there were a
series of constitutional conventions, ultimately it was primarily
white anglo men with resources, who designed the constitution.
Where were the voices of Aboriginal people, women, young folk, rural
Victorians? To redress this imbalance of voice and diversity, my
intention is to create several pieces of dialogue identifying issues,
which I believe, ought to be addressed. For example, I will have
Koori voices from the Kulin Nation who will welcome the invaders,
offer them reciprocal rights and contrast this with voices of Parliamentarians.
I have no intentions of promoting stereotypes, rather will highlight
our silenced voices (yet again). Primarily this work (as indeed
all of my work) is about respect and giving voice to silenced, marginalised
people.
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Photographer:
Justin Bernhaut
RMIT Photography Student
Photographer:
Justin Bernhaut
RMIT Photography Student
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On
Photography
I
have been taking photographs for more than twenty years. I have a
personal collection of more than six thousand images. And at any one
given time I have at least eighty rolls of film that needs to be developed.
I believe that photographers ought to have ethics. My philosophy
is to ask permission, before I take someone’s image. I also
state that a copy of the image should be given to the person, relation
or nominee. This is quite a daunting task because my photographs
are of people from throughout Australia, North America and Thailand.
Primarily I document Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and
our friends. I also photograph signs, pets, demonstrations, bands,
poets, politicians, police officers, newspapers and landscapes.
Often I will write text to accompany the image.
In August 2001 I will have a solo exhibition at the new Melbourne
Museum (Bunjilaka) titled, Reconciliation – bar humbug.
I will display two thousand and one images and text. Please come
along, listen, look and learn.
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Bio
Education
Doctorate of Philosophy La Trobe University (current)
Masters in Creative Writing (Research) University of Queensland
Master of Arts (Women’s Studies) University of Melbourne
Graduate Diploma in Arts (Women’s Studies) University of Melbourne
Articles
Lisa Bellear’s articles have appeared in publications including
Breaking Through Women, Work and Careers edited by
Jocelynne Scutt, Artemis Press 1992; Australian Women’s Book
Review; The Women’s Handbook (University of Melbourne);
The Koori Mail. She has appeared as a guest and host on radio
and television programmes.
| A
Selection of Published Poems |
| 1996 |
Dreaming
in Urban Areas, collection of poetry by Lisa Bellear, published
UQP |
| 1995 |
The
Shadow Cabinet, Permanent Press, 'Taxi'
Australian
Author, ASA Journal, vol. 27; 'Empowerment'
Australia
Feli X; 'Justice'
Purely
Koori, University of Melbourne, 'The Rapist', 'Justice';
Samuca Blackboard Poems; 'Breathalyser'; Yuroke, University
of Melbourne; 'Mother’s Day
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| 1994 |
Weddings
and Wives, Edited by Dale Spender, Penguin Books; 'Chops ‘n
Things'
Australian
De Frauen, Susan Hawthorne/Renate Klein, Reise & Kultur, Frauenoffensive,
Germany; 'Chop ‘n Things'
Australian
Short Stories, No 46;
'Mother in Law'
Australian
Multicultural Book Review, Vol. 2 1991
'Aboriginal
Country', 'Cross My Heart', 'Spiritual Ruin'
Journal
of the Australian and New Zealand Student Services Association,
No 3, 1994; 'Breathalyser', 'White Man Approval', 'Justice'
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| 1992/93 |
Koori
Times, The Melbourne Koori News Magazine, No 1, 1993;
'Taxi' 'Hate Fuelled with Kerosene'
Australian
Women’s Book Review, Vol. 5. 4 1993; 'Mr Don’t
Scratch My Rolex', 'Tanna Man'
Ngariaty
Kooris Talkin (magazine) La Trobe University 1993 'Tanna
Man', 'The Promise', 'White Man Approval'
Perserverance
Poets Collection, 1991-1992; 'Chops ‘n Things', 'White
Man Approval' 'Christmas in Cuba'
Second
Degree Tampering, Sybylla Press; 'Fashion Statement',
'Women’s Liberation, 'Package My Spirit'.
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