Alyssa Fritzlaff
MORWELL artist Ronald Edwards-Pepper has been recognised in the 2021 Koorie Art Show.
The Gunaikurnai artist was awarded the Creative Victoria Award for Excellence in Any Media for his work, titled ‘Coming Out 2’.
As part of the award, Mr Edwards-Pepper won a cash prize of $10,000.
In his artist statement he said “the artwork is about me coming out and being proud of my culture”.
“We are all different and we’re all different colour, people as myself, might be black Aboriginal, but I’m gay and I’m proud, and that’s why I love colour,” he told The Express.
“I aim to make a difference in all cultures and break down the barriers in my artwork. I might be Aboriginal, but I don’t always do Aboriginal designs.
“I step outside the box and that’s why I do a lot of colour in spirals, not an Indigenous image or design.”
Mr Edwards-Pepper has been creating art for a number of years.
“I been creating art since I was at TAFE, in the Koorie Unit many, many years ago … and one day a week they had a cultural day,” he said.
“That’s when I knew I wanted to become an artist, knowing that there was art in culture.”
He was shocked when he found out he had won the award.
“It was the best time of my life, I was very excited and I felt like I was going to faint … it didn’t sink in at the time when I was actually hearing it,” Mr Edwards-Pepper said.
“Just knowing what great artwork was out there… it was great know that I was selected from the other artworks.”
Through his use of colours and many different elements in his piece, Mr Edwards-Pepper conveys his pride, both of being gay and embracing his culture.
“I did a lot of bright colours, and neon colours also – to make people happy… some of the images represent my journey in life,” he said.
“Like Japan, I’ve been to Japan, and that was the happiest time of my life, so I have that on the artwork and some of the ones that make me happy and proud to be who I am.
“Art brings people together, no matter what culture you are.”
The Koorie Art Show is an annual exhibition and award that showcases the work of Koorie and Victorian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.
It has acted as a springboard for many artists, with many going on to present solo shows and have their work displayed in international collections.
Koorie Art Show judge Andrew Jackomos said he was “honoured” to be part of this year’s panel.
“The range of artistic expression, passion and styles in the competition pieces are not only celebrating our traditional connection to land and community, but also forging our special place as First Peoples going forward,” he said.
The show is run through Creative Victoria, in partnership with the Koorie Heritage Trust.
