TRACING THE ART OF A STOLEN GENERATION:
THE CHILD ARTISTS OF CARROLUP
5 October–9 November 2022
University Memorial Chapel
Admission free
Tracing the Art of a Stolen Generation: the child artists of Carrolup is an exhibition presented by Curtin University, with the Carrolup Elders Reference Group. Presented as part of the UK/Australia Season.
This exhibition contains information about the Stolen Generations and the impact of invasion and colonisation and includes images and words of Aboriginal and other people who are deceased.
From 5 October to 9 November 2022, The Hunterian and the Memorial Chapel at the University of Glasgow are sharing the story of the First Nation children and families from Western Australia who have survived the impact of colonisation to find love, strength and resilience through the art of the child artists of Carrolup.
In the 1940s Nyungar children were forcibly taken from their families and detained at the Carrolup Native Settlement. These children created artworks that spoke of their connection to their country – their Nyungar Boodja.
These artworks were exhibited across the UK in the 1950s, including in Glasgow and works were sold to purchase more drawing materials for the children at Carrolup.
Since 2013, John Curtin Gallery at Curtin University – under the guidance of the Carrolup Elders Reference Group – has been the custodian of the Carrolup Children’s Art.
The exhibition tells the story of the child artists and the journey their descendants have taken to heal and to reconnect. It asks us to confront the histories of colonialism, exploitation and loss in the spirit of truth-telling and reconciliation.
The story behind the exhibition is the ongoing search to find artworks that toured the UK in the 1950s and were then sold, to return them where possible to their families and their land. The Carrolup artworks are culturally significant for the Noongar people of Western Australia. The descendant families long to be reunited with their stolen children through their lost artworks.
For more information on Tracing the Art of a Stolen Generation: the child artists of Carrolup, please visit The Carrolup Centre for Truth-telling.
Image: Revel Cooper, Contentment, c.1949. The Herbert Mayer Collection of Carrolup Artwork, Curtin University Art Collection. Gift of Colgate University, USA, 2013.
CAN YOU HELP US FIND THE CARROLUP ARTWORKS?
The artworks created by the Carrolup children have returned to Glasgow after 70 years to share the story of the artists and the healing journey of their descendants.
The whereabouts of many artworks that were created are unknown and the search for them goes on.
If you think you may have a Carrolup artwork and would like to find out more, please get in touch with John Curtin Gallery.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Tracing the Art of a Stolen Generation: the child artists of Carrolup was curated by Michelle Broun assisted by adjunct curator Dr Helen Idle and Goreng Noongar Elder Mr Ezzard Flowers.
Tracing the Art of a Stolen Generation: the child artists of Carrolup is supported by Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries Western Australia, Australian High Commission in the United Kingdom, British Council Australia, BHP, John Curtin Gallery and Curtin University.
VISITOR INFORMATION
The exhibition venue is the University Memorial Chapel which is normally open to visitors from 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday. Please note that these times are the scheduled opening times.
If you are making a special trip to visit we recommend you contact the Interfaith Chaplaincy staff in advance.
When visiting please remember that the Chapel is a sacred space where memories of University life are recalled and new memories are made. We hope you will be understanding when the space is closed to visitors for services, weddings, funerals or other events.
University Memorial Chapel
The University of Glasgow
Glasgow G12 8QQ
Telephone: +44 (0) 141 330 5419
Email: chaplaincy@glasgow.ac.uk
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