Aboriginal stories, history and sorrow captured in exhibition

Published: 29 Aug 2019

Artspace Mackay is shining a light on one of Queensland’s greatest painters with a moving, posthumous exhibition opening this Friday (August 30).

Some People are Stories is the first major touring exhibition of Vincent Serico’s work since his death in 2008.

Containing a folio of 20 exquisite framed print reproductions and seven original paintings, Some People are Stories is a totally engrossing exhibition.

Vincent Serico’s artistic body of work spans over forty years.

Many of his paintings document significant events in his life or of previous generations as Indigenous people struggled with cultural and lifestyle changes.

Cr Fran Mann said Vincent Serico was a historian and a journeyman as well as an artist.

“This exhibition captures his remarkable life journey through regional, remote and rural Queensland,” Cr Fran Mann said.

“Vincent Serico’s works are incredibly complex and capture scenes that tell stories of Australian, and more specifically, Aboriginal history,” she said.

“These are not artworks to be browsed – they are the kinds of paintings you study for many minutes and continually discover new elements that add to the story.”

FireWorks Gallery Director and exhibition curator, Michael Eather said Vincent Serico’s life experiences straddled great changes and diverse worlds.

“Some People are Stories’ print folio exposes a deep well of Vincent’s imagery, his vision and his ‘history tales’,” Eather said.

“Here, they are brought back to a digestible scale. The touring exhibition showcases this magnificent folio alongside key original works that will no doubt broaden the audience’s appreciation of this important artist.

“Vincent always dreamed of this and his last wish has come true.”

Exhibition Opening: 6pm, Friday, August 30, Foyer Gallery of Artspace Mackay.  A curator’s floor talk will take place prior at 5.30pm.  RSVP: 4961 9722 or artspace@mackay.qld.gov.au