Created by: Millie Smith, Georgia Mossie, Lucy Hardyman, Jocelyn Wong.

MICHAEL COOK

Created by: Millie Smith, Georgia Mossie, Lucy Hardyman, Jocelyn Wong

About the Artist

Michael was born in south west Queensland

Adopted at a young age First photographic series was

name civilised Many of his artworks won awards Latest photographic series is

named: Majority rules

Series ‘civilised’

Series: Majority

rules

About the Artwork-Through My Eyes

Upper row: Robert Hawke, Julie Gillard, John Howard

Bottom row: Kevin Rudd

Michael Cook, Through My Eyes #23, #27, #25, #26. Inkjet Prints on Hahnemuehle® Photo Rag, 50x40cms

Material Practice-Through My Eyes A series of images of 27 Australian Prime

Ministers (from Edmund Barton to Julie Gillard) with faces of Indigenous people transposed over through digital blending

Unusual photography practice: Like a painting rather than studio

photography Hahnemuhle Photo Rag: 100% cotton-

impressive pictorial depth The image is his black canvas and the

use of in-jet printing-historical feeling-mysterious

Presents several photos in series-then to now

Aesthetic depth is built with his photographic layering

Michael Cook, Through My Eyes #12(Robert Menzies). Inkjet Prints on Hahnemuehle® Photo Rag, 50x40cms

Conceptual Practice Combining facial features of Indigenous

people with those of major political figures (eyes)-reconsider their view of history through the Aboriginal eyes

Equal status between White officials and indigenous people, a sense of unity

Australia has not had an indigenous prime minister, asking the audience to explore “What if”

What difference would it have made to indigenous people?

Levels of interest and engagement in the country's first people that various governments have had

Features of Indigenous women on men Prime ministers empowers Indigenous women-have a say in society

Michael Cook, Through My Eyes #24(Paul Keating). Inkjet Prints on Hahnemuehle® Photo Rag, 50x40cms

About the World Michael Cook is an indigenous

Australian, his artworks reflect how aboriginal Australians are treated by in society and the politics view on them in the world.

He is trying to break through the barriers put up by Australians in positions, this is shown in his artworks by combining both aboriginal and the 27 former prime minsters

About the world

In his artworks he shows the policies placed by the government and how these polices result to the mistreatment of Aboriginals.

Kevin's Rudd apologies speech had in influence on Cook's artworks

His major influence was his parents that adopted him in seeing his mother fight for aboriginal rights

About the Audience“ Cooks photographic practice is unusual. He constructs his images in a manner more akin to painting than the traditional photographic

studio or documentary model.”

-This is similar to most peoples initial reaction-The audience usually questions his methods and what the mediums actually are. This is because he has manipulated his image using an effect called layering in Photoshop. -This is one of the ways cook engages his audience in a way different to most photographers – because he immediately poses questions and intrigues the audience into wondering how he has created such an unusual, yet amazing image. -Cook asks his audience to ponder the impacts and effects suffered by Australian Indigenous People under the ruling of different Prime Ministers from then to now as they observe the series of pictures one after another

About the Audience- In terms of presentation, Cook has had his

works displayed in many galleries all over Australia, but they can also be found online.

- In one of his most recent displays, we see the images framed in white, and backlit on white walls – making the black and white photographs stand out even more in the room.

- They have been placed in an open space so the audience can see the images from many different perspectives and viewpoints, which also gives the space an opening and welcoming feeling.

- When placed in the audiences position, we notice the photographs do not offer judgement, instead, they are observational mixed with a bit of irony and wit.

The END

References http://

www.latrobe.edu.au/vac/exhibitions/archive-details?queries_asset-id_query=217169

http://www.andrew-baker.com/Michael%20Cook_Through%20My%20Eyes.pdf

http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/159145962?versionId=173480763 http://moadoph.gov.au/exhibitions/michael-cook-through-my-eye

s/

http://au.bukvar.mk/news/michael-cook-through-my-eyes-reveals-the-colour-of-power?newsid=Vkm

http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/michael-cook-through-my-eyes-reveals-the-colour-of-power-20140428-37dy6.html