Media releases

Federation University Australia’s Post Office Gallery will showcase the work of select Indigenous artists from HM Prison Langi Kal Kal and Hopkins Correctional Centre to coincide with NAIDOC Week.

The MARRA-NARRAP LAKORRA, meaning ‘under blue skies’ exhibition will feature 35 paintings, predominantly acrylic on canvas, exploring themes of family, country and freedom in in varying styles.

The works are the result of the Certificate II in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Arts and Certificate II in Mumgu-dhal tyama-tiyt programs, a collaboration between Federation TAFE, the corrections system and Federation’s Aboriginal Education Centre.

“Our teachers in corrections work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to explore their story, culture and interests through various forms of art. The MARRA-NARRAP LAKORRA show is a celebration of this exploration and showcases some excellent outcomes from the work being done in the corrections environment,” said Paul Mah, Program Coordinator, Corrections, Federation TAFE.

Many of the participants have never painted before and through the program discover an incredible skill.

Some of the works from the exhibition will go on to feature on The Torch exhibition, where they can be sold by the artists.

MARRA-NARRAP LAKORRA will run from Wednesday, 21 June to Sunday, 9 July at the Post Office Gallery, corner of Sturt and Lydiard Street North, Ballarat.

It will be officially opened on Friday, 23 June at 6.30pm. During NAIDOC Week (2-9 July) the exhibition will be open from 12pm to 5pm.

Quotes attributable to Federation University Collections Curator, Shelley Hinton

“Many of the artists have incredible skill without realising it and are able to discover this through their involvement in the program that continues to be extremely successful.”

“Some of the works are very moving - some speak to their loss of freedom, their love of their families and kin, and the significance of their totem and country and their cultural heritage.”