You almost certainly won’t need me to tell you which country kangaroos and boomerangs are associated with (it’s Australia, just in case), but some of the other symbolism in the work of Reko Rennie may need a little extra explanation – especially for those outside the country. Rennie is an urban Aborigine, and his work displays a political message about the sovereignty of his people, particularly the Kamilaroi people of New South Wales. Three motifs recur in his work: the crown (representing the Aborigine’s rightful status as the indigenous population), the diamond (a Kamilaroi family crest) and a representation of the Aboriginal flag.
The trio of symbols crop up in previous work and are also evident in No Sleep Till Dreamtime, Rennie’s latest collection recently on show at the Chalk Horse gallery, Sydney. Using a modern set of materials and media such as spray paint and signage, Rennie adds to his trio chevrons – a modified version of the traditional diamond symbol cut into tree bark. These designs, portrayed with glittering paint and hard textures, fuse the look of urban art with the symbolism of the Aboriginal tradition to ask questions about the Aborigine’s role in modern Australia.
Reko Rennie
No Sleep Till Dreamtime
No sleep till Dreamtime (Fade) #1 (2014)
acrylic on Belgian linen
152 x 152 cm
No sleep till Dreamtime #12 (2014)
screen print on hand pressed metallic foil on board
70 x 70 cm
Reko Rennie
No Sleep Till Dreamtime
No sleep till Dreamtime #10 (2014)
screen print on hand pressed metallic foil on board
70 x 70 cm
Reko Rennie
No Sleep Till Dreamtime
No sleep till Dreamtime (Fade) #2 (2014)
acrylic and Micaceous iron oxide on board
70 x 70 cm
No sleep till Dreamtime #14 (2014)
hand pressed metallic foil on board
70 x 70 cm
