It’s difficult to believe that it’s been 15 years since Destiny Deacon has had a solo exhibition. The Torres Strait Islander artist’s work offers a darkly funny and frequently poignant look at contemporary Australian life.
Deacon is best known for her photography, but there’s more than 100 multidisciplinary works on show, including video, sculpture and installation, drawn from 30 years of work. You can see some of Deacon's earliest video works (created in partnership with the late Wiradjuri and Kamilaroi photographer Michael Riley) as well new commissions created in collaboration with long-time collaborator and fellow artist Virginia Fraser (who worked with Deacon on the renowned 2005 installation 'Colourblinded').
Deacon was born in Queensland and studied politics and education before turning to photography (as a way to express herself and her beliefs) in her 30s. Her last solo exhibition –Destiny Deacon: Walk and don't Look blak – was in 2004 at Sydney's Museum of Contemporary Art (it went on to tour Australia, Japan, New Calendonia and New Zealand).