Rekospective: The Art of Reko Rennie is a landmark exhibition showcasing the artist's largest presentation of work to date and his first-ever retrospective. With over 100 pieces on display, including recent acquisitions and new works, the exhibition spans Rennie's two-decades-plus career, offering a comprehensive exploration of his powerful artistic responses to history, culture, and materials.
CommunityThe Art of Reko Rennie
Next ArticleThe Art of Reko Rennie
Indigenous Australian Artist Reimagining Identity
01 October 2024
Rennie, globally renowned for his distinctive style, integrates street art principles with contemporary art forms and traditional Kamilaroi designs. His work merges traditional diamond-shaped patterns, hand-drawn symbols, and repetitive motifs with modern mediums such as printmaking, sculpture, video, painting, and neon. Through this unique approach, Rennie challenges romantic notions of Aboriginal identity.
The artist's impressive career includes exhibitions across Australia, Asia, the United States, and Europe, notably at the 56th Venice Biennale in 2015 and the XIII Bienal de Cuenca in Ecuador in 2016. Committing to full-time art practice in 2008, Rennie received the Victorian Indigenous Art Award that same year and has since been featured in major State collections and received significant public art commissions throughout Australia.
A highlight of the exhibition is the NGV debut of REMEMBER ME (2020), a monumental 15-metre-wide light sculpture commissioned by Carriageworks and acquired by the NGV. This piece is a contemporary memorial acknowledging the frontier wars and their impact on Aboriginal communities.
Another key work is the three-channel film Initiation OA_RR (2021), featuring a pink 1973 Holden Monaro performing burnouts, referencing 'Westie' drag-racing culture and First Peoples initiation practices. The film is accompanied by an original operatic score composed and performed by Yorta Yorta soprano Deborah Cheetham AO.
The exhibition also includes OA_RR (2016), showcasing a Rolls Royce adorned with Rennie's signature camouflage design in bold pink, black, and beige. This piece, along with the accompanying video, explores themes of visibility and reclamation of Kamilaroi Country.
Rekospective represents the full scope of Rennie's artistic journey, from his earliest street art-inspired paintings to his evolving Original Aboriginal camouflage designs. The exhibition features early bronze sculptures, steel totems, and new works in marble and light, demonstrating Rennie's versatility across various materials and subjects.
Largely autobiographical, Rennie's art explores his experiences as a First Nations person navigating contemporary society, art spaces, politics, and culture. His work contributes significantly to discussions surrounding First Peoples’ identity in contemporary art and provokes conversations about Australia's colonial legacy.
Rekospective: The Art of Reko Rennie is on display from 11 October 2024 to 27 January 2025 at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia at Fed Square.
LEARN MORE https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/exhibition/rekospective-the-art-of-reko-rennie/
