#deancross

As an aboriginal person, Dean Cross’ projects formally represent harmony in his culture. His multifaceted art-making proposes his deep interests in creating power structures about culture and the post-colonial society we currently live in. Cross states that he has worked in a variety of ways to do so. Things will “emerge” which will inspire him and be built upon (Cross, 2021). As aforementioned, Cross refers to his work as a formal representation of Aboriginal culture and instead tries to move away from the extremities of political work. Cross acknowledges that his ancestors have taken a great part in creating moving political art that seeks justice in reforming society. Rather stated Cross thinks of his responsibility as a “culture maker” (Cross, 2021). His interest is in finding the “poetics” in the political, or in other words, finding the “beauty in the political” (Cross, 2021). Hayley Miller Baker further agrees that it is important not to constantly be fighting with politics and instead “find a balance” (Baker, 2021). Similar to Cross, Bakers body of work There we were all in one place (2021) explores aboriginal identity and "affirms the Aboriginal experience and culture". In a world that is so driven to protest against every political system, the purpose of surfacing knowledge on a situation is usually lost between the anger. I agree that there should be a drive to create peace and harmony in the Aboriginal culture.

Dean Cross, Untitled (Self-portrait as Clay and Water), 2015 Single channel digital moving image

Cross’ work Untitled (Self-portrait as Clay and Water) 2015, is where I can evidently see this harmonic balance between his art, and his cultural identity. Emerging from a saltwater lake, Cross applies ochre pigments to his body. I believe this to be a representation of painting on a canvas. Moreover, the moving image artwork symbolises Cross’ return to “Country” and return to “Aboriginality”.

“My ancestors are Saltwater people, and it is salt water that connects me to them” (Cross, 2021)

This idea can further be viewed through his work Untitled triptych (Looking West, Ochred and Life preserver), 2015 which additionally exhibits harmony and the beauty found in his political art.

Dean Cross, Untitled Triptych (Looking West, Ochred and Life preserver), 2015 Polaroid Colorpack II photographs

References:

Australian Centre for Photography. (2021). Dean Cross [Exhibition Achive]. Dean Cross. https://acp.org.au/see/oceans-from-here-2/dean-cross/

Baker, H.M. (2021). Hayley Millar Baker [80067 Photography Guest Lecture Program]. UTS Canvas. https://canvas.uts.edu.au/

Cross, D. (2021). Dean Cross Lecture [80067 Photography Guest Lecture Program]. UTS Canvas. https://canvas.uts.edu.au/

Cross, D. (2015). Untitled (Self-portrait as Clay and Water) (Online exhibition) [Single channel digital moving image]. Australian Centre for Photography. https://acp.org.au/see/oceans-from-here-2/dean-cross/

Cross, D. (2015). Untitled Triptych (Looking West, Ochred and Life preserver) (Online exhibition) [Polaroid Colorpack II photographs]. Australian Centre for Photography. https://acp.org.au/see/oceans-from-here-2/dean-cross/

MORE ON DEAN CROSS 

Dean Cross is a trans-disciplinary artist who aims to reconstruct and reevaluate the definition of being Australian in the 21st Century, and its relations to the contemporary globalised world.