An artist coming to Scope in New York this week has been getting a good share of press back home in Australia because he cuts against the grain of what most consider Aboriginal art. Here’s the Sydney Morning Herald on Reko Rennie:

“I’m an authentic Aboriginal but I’m not drawing dots. It’s been really amazing to share my connection to the country, community and family through imagery and iconography.” […]

He says the majority of Aboriginal Australians live in urban environments – and his art, which includes a vibrant hot pink kangaroo titled Big Red, aims to reflect that. “Everyone can relate to the kangaroo and internationally it’s a great image … but it also has a powerful relationship to our communities.”

The 37-year-old’s passion for art began as a teenager in the form of street graffiti and it was not until he was older that he realised he could use his talent “to express my identity as an Aboriginal man in an urban environment”.

More to Aboriginal Art than Connecting the Dots (Sydney Morning Herald)