A collective of Aboriginal artists set up in Brisbane in 2004 to give urban based artists a voice. The proppaNOW collective is at the forefront of contemporary art in Australia and the seven individuals who make up the group have exhibited in museums and galleries around the world.
proppaNOW challenges the notion of what Aboriginal art is. The artists use their art to forcefully push for social change, while paying homage to their cultural roots. They use paintings, sculptures, film and photos to address issues of racism, displacement, land rights, the environment and to challenge ‘white’ ideas of Aboriginal art and Aboriginal life in society today.
They don’t do dots, they don’t do art about the dreamtime, they do art about NOW.
This film tells the unique story of the proppaNOW artists, their politics, their success and the origins of their art. Richard Bell, Vernon Ah Kee, Jennifer Herd, Laurie Nilsen, Gordon Hookey, Bianca Beetson and Tony Albert are the proppaNOW collective. Collectively they are an Australian success story.
Proppanow was broadcast on NITV at Wednesday 28 March 2018, 02:05. This episode was initially placed on Thursday 10 March 2016.