Ryan Presley: Prosperity
Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane
‘Prosperity reminds us that the Western narrative of capitalism and the closely associated liberal ideas of social progress, democracy and self-determination have been built on the exclusion of Indigenous economies,’ writes Madeleine King, who curated Ryan Presley’s first major solo-exhibition at Institute of Modern Art earlier this year. In these pages we see the show documented with reproductions of his finely painted and incisively composed Blood Money series (2010-18) as well as full-page details, allowing the viewer greater insight into the patterning and thoughtful symbolism of these works which depict icons of the Aboriginal resistance. Contributions from Tina Baum, Daniel Browning, Suvendrini Perera and the artist explore the historical grounding and captivating aesthetic of the work.
