REKOSPECTIVE - The Art of Reko Rennie at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia - Review
REKOSPECTIVE is a vibrant and immersive exhibition celebrating the bold and dynamic works of Kamilaroi self-taught artist Reko Rennie.
Portrait of RekoRenniewithALWAYS2021insideREKOSPECTIVE: The Art of RekoRennie - Photo credit: Eugene Hyland
Little Mister was intrigued by the videos and this exhibition, so we headed there after checking out the Cats & Dogs exhibition on our recent Melbourne trip.
Remember Me (shown above) is a 15-meter-wide illuminated text work to remember Indigenous lives lost in the frontier wars.
Remember Me - Image credit: Busy City Kids
Image credit: Busy City Kids
Unlike conventional exhibitions, the REKOSPECTIVE exhibition is not in chronological order so it allows visitors to explore at their own pace and appreciate Rennie’s distinctive style with works from over the last two decades. This exhibition powerfully highlights the interplay of culture, politics, and identity through a contemporary First Nations lens.
Image credit: Busy City Kids
Image credit: Busy City Kids
Image credit: Busy City Kids
Image credit: Busy City Kids
Mister loved this little pink room where they had beats pumping so thought he could do some break dancing ha!
Image credit: Busy City Kids
He quite enjoyed the room playing short videos of Reko Rennie himself driving his car around neighbourhoods and showing his pink car. You can relax on a bean bag and watch the videos.
Image credit: Busy City Kids
Image credit: Busy City Kids
REKOSPECTIVE is a colourful exhibition showcasing Rennie’s complex aspects of his Aboriginal identity and Melbourne upbringing.
Image credit: Busy City Kids
Three Little Pigs (2024) - Image credit: Busy City Kids
Image credit: Busy City Kids
I personally really enjoyed this exhibition, like many of Reko Rennie’s exhibitions, I am always in admiration of this artist and the work he produces and showcases in galleries across the states but also across cities on buildings. There is no denying that politics are front and centre with Reko Rennie which I can feel through his pieces responding to the Cronulla riots, the level of racism that AFL player Adam Goodes endured after he performed the warrior dance one year and the history and legacy of grandmother Julia who was a child of the Stolen Generations.
Image credit: Busy City Kids
Tips:
REKOSPECTIVE - The Art of Reko Rennie is located at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Fed Square until 27th January 2025.
Entry is FREE.
The museum has a café which is located downstairs within the Fed Square building which we head to for a quiet moment before/after visiting exhibitions.
Toilets are located on the same level as the The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia ground floor.
For more information regarding this exhibition, head here.
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