Ceremony
Robert Fielding
Holden On
Robert Fielding creates works that retell overlooked or forgotten stories to create a stronger future. His works often feature abandoned cars that have been recreated using paint and light, influenced by a long road connecting to the artist’s home in Mimili Community, littered with mutuka katalypa (car wrecks).
Fielding paints his cars with designs drawn from his rich cultural heritage. He installs lights underneath the car, “bringing back to life something long thought dead”. The artist asks the audience to think about the stories held within the car and how they remain present in Country, language and culture. This work honours the important role of cars in remote communities in enabling families to attend ceremonies and visit country.
Holden On is presented on a pontoon on Lake Burley Griffin. The artificial lake was created in 1963 through the damming of the Molonglo River, which resulted in the flooding and destruction of an important ceremony ground. The work comments on the possession of Ngunnawal and Ngambri land to create Kamberri/Canberra, the seat of colonial political power in this country. It speaks to the endurance and evolution of First Nations people.
From the Audio Guide
Artist Robert Fielding on Holden On