Bluey and Bandit.

Goodness, it is just over a year since I last posted a ‘blog’. Lots has happened, most too mundane to bore you with.

I will say that you have probably noticed that I have been experimenting using a round (tondo) composition for my artwork instead of the usual square/rectangle format. I am quite enamoured the new format and the challenges in shooting the figures to suit the rounded image. My images being dark/almost black, when printed on aluminium at about 30cm in diameter, evokes the sensation of holding a 33rpm vinyl record of old (which is new again apparently). Good thing my work is not in colour because at that size would evoke the sensation of a pizza…and I do love my pizza.

You have also probably noticed that my image Bluey and Bandit has been getting a lot of attention lately. It has been shortlisted in a couple of art prizes and has been/will be exhibited in Melbourne (Brunswick Street Gallery), Canberra (Photo Acsess Gallery, and soon in Geelong (Hue and Cry Gallery) and Bairnsdale (East Gippsland Art Gallery). The image started out as a small project to make a set of Ned Kelly armour for one of my 1/6th scale figures. Being cheap, I made it from toilet roll tubes and scrap cardboard. The effect of the metal plates came with the carefully application of acrylic paint referring to photographs of the original armour. Once assembled with the addition of spare clothing from my figure/dolls clothes box, the figure didn’t look half bad, even if I do say so myself.

Being proud of my accomplishment, I decided to photograph the figure but started wondering in what context in regards to my art practice. Yes, these things do keep me awake at night. I worked on a couple of set ups with various figures which turned out ok. Then I came across a picture from the Star Wars TV series ‘The Mandalorian’. The image was the heavily armoured Mandalorian from the title carrying the baby Yoda (Grogu). The image struck me as something that I could adapt with the Kelly figure. I had a baby Yoda figure that I could use (of course I did) but again, what context?? Putting Grogu itself (him/her) into the picture was too obvious, too easy, even too contrived. Then the revelation.

I am not saying I’m a connoisseur of Bluey (the Australian kids program) but as a grandfather of two beautiful little girls, I have seen my fair share of Bluey during babysitting duties…probably 5 time each episode. I know enough to go on Mastermind or some other quiz show with Bluey as my special subject. Anyway, during one babysitting session with the granddaughters, they pulled out their Bluey action figures to play with. While sitting there ignoring the usual carnage surrounding me, I was focussed on the tiny blue figure that I was holding realising I had found the exact device I was after. Bingo. No, No, not Bluey’s sister, bingo as in ‘eureka’, ‘great’, ‘epiphany’, etc. And before you ask, no, I didn’t steal my grandchildren’s toy to use in my photography. Yes, a few paragraphs ago I admitted I was cheap, but not enough to steal from my darling grandkiddywinks. I went straight to Woolies, spent the $8 and acquired my own.

Anyway, the figure purchased, I started playing around with the composition containing Ned and Bluey. I settled on a straight on portrait like an old timey family photo. The only other element was the gun Ned held in the other hand. I had a few period guns in my toy spares box which looked ok, the I decided to give a nod to the original concept of inspiration. The pistol Ned holds is not from the period (1860s -1870s), but the Mandalorian’s sidearm. If you know, you know.

So, Bluey and Bandit is created. Why not title the image Bluey and Ned you may ask? Well, if you know the show, you know Bandit is the name of Bluey’s father and as Ned Kelly was a ‘bandit’, I couldn’t help with the play on words and just seems to fit. The image connotes ideas of Australian folklore, history, iconography and popular culture. Bluey is known world wide - probably more so than Ned himself and an integral part of Australian culture seen on the world stage.

Bluey and Bandit. 2024

Here is my artist statement about Bluey and Bandit…

“In this photograph, I blend Australian folklore and popular culture by juxtaposing the legendary bushranger Ned Kelly with the beloved children's character Bluey. This visual composition explores the interplay between historical and contemporary narratives, using iconography to bridge different eras of Australian identity. Ned Kelly, an enduring figure of rebellion and resilience, stands as a testament to the country's tumultuous past, while Bluey embodies modern innocence, family, and the vibrancy of today's society. By placing these two figures together, the photograph invites viewers to contemplate the ongoing dialogue between our historical roots and the evolution of cultural symbols. The contrast and connection between Ned Kelly and Bluey provoke a deeper reflection on how history and popular culture shape our collective memory, highlighting the complexities and continuities within Australian heritage. This artwork challenges us to consider the narratives that define us and how they inform our understanding of identity across generations.”