I Secure My Place Whilst Disregarding Others (Capt. J. Cook), 2024,
acrylic paint and gold foil on xuan paper
(H) 90 x (W) 60 cm
My painting reinterprets Nathaniel Dance-Holland's iconic portrait of Captain James Cook, delving into the complexities of his legacy and the concept of terra nullius—a doctrine that denied the existence of Indigenous sovereignty despite Cook's documented encounters with Aboriginal peoples in Australia. The title, "I Secure My Place Whilst Disregarding Others," prominently displayed at the bottom, underscores the ruthless ambition that drove colonial expansion, highlighting the selective blindness to the lives and cultures that were systematically erased.
In a deliberate subversion of historical imagery, the side of the painting features a pith helmet morphed into a sinister blend of Ku Klux Klan headgear and Balaclavas, symbolising the violent and oppressive forces intertwined with colonialism. The central figure, partially obscured by this unsettling imagery, covers a deliberately blackened body, a stark reminder of the erasure and dehumanisation of Indigenous and marginalised peoples. This work challenges viewers to confront the uncomfortable truths of history, urging a re-examination of celebrated figures and the legacies they leave behind.
In a deliberate subversion of historical imagery, the side of the painting features a pith helmet morphed into a sinister blend of Ku Klux Klan headgear and Balaclavas, symbolising the violent and oppressive forces intertwined with colonialism. The central figure, partially obscured by this unsettling imagery, covers a deliberately blackened body, a stark reminder of the erasure and dehumanisation of Indigenous and marginalised peoples. This work challenges viewers to confront the uncomfortable truths of history, urging a re-examination of celebrated figures and the legacies they leave behind.