A YOUNG Indigenous artist from Napoleons has been headhunted to have his work splashed across the entire front of the NGV at Melbourne’s White Night festival this month.
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In a huge coup, Josh Muir, 24, has now become a major commissioned artist in Victoria, with his edgy, bright art examining Aboriginal issues turned into slides for the well-loved event on February 20.
The projections will be animated onto the National Gallery of Victoria and set to an original score.
“I’m doing a piece around Aboriginal people and the impact of European settlement and how we’ve managed to remain here healthy and strong and look toward the future and hope for reconciliation,” he said.
The former St Patrick’s College student said the pairing of his work on the NGV was “a bit of an oxymoron”, with his street art projected on an institution promoting fine art.
In another win for Muir but a loss for Ballarat, he will be moving to Melbourne this month as he has received a scholarship to study at the prestigious Victorian College of the Arts.
Muir also commented about the recent scandal in Ballarat where two young men dressed in blackface as Aborigines for an “Aussie icon” party, saying “we’ve got a lot more work to do”.
“We need to remain positive and stay strong. (I’ve got) no anger or bitterness against anyone; it’s more the system and how the system works that needs to be addressed,” he said.
“We need to stay focused and be inspired and tackle the issues head on.”
