Monday 3 March, 2008

Bravo Clippings #25



In 1991 Franck Gohier graduated with a BA (Fine Arts, majoring in printmaking) from the then Northern Territory University, where he also worked as a studio printmaker/lecturer between 1993-96. During this time, Gohier co-founded (along with Leon Stainer and George Watts) a series of groundbreaking printmaking workshops involving Indigenous artists from remote communities throughout the Top End and Desert regions of North Australia.


The important links forged by this team of printmakers, between the University and several key Indigenous art communities, formed the foundation of the Northern Editions Printmaking Studio, recently described by former Chancellor Mrs Nancy Giese, AO OBE as ‘the jewel in the crown’ of Charles Darwin University.


In 1997, Gohier co-founded Red Hand Print Studio together with Shaun Poustie (also formerly of Northern Editions), an ideologically radical and independently spirited venture, which continued Gohier’s involvement with the tuition of printmaking skills to Indigenous communities, later extending this to prisoners at Berrimah Jail.



The range of Gohier’s creative accomplishments include intaglio and relief printing, painting, collage, sculpture and filmmaking. To this should be added his impressive history of poster production. In April 2004, the Charles Darwin University Art Collection confirmed its acceptance of seventy-nine (79) poster prints by Gohier dating from 1997-2002, emanating from the pioneering printmaking studio of Red Hand.




About Country & Western: Franck Gohier brings a pop-inspired twist to the politics and topography of the Kimberley cattle industry. In the tradition of political posters, Franck draws on his love of cowboy culture, a favorite fifties children’s novel Cowboy Small, and his admiration for the contribution made by Aboriginal people to the Kimberley cattle industry. An established artist, Franck taught and editioned prints in communities across the Northern Territory for many years. He now pursues his own socio-politically motivated practice full-time.



A small sample of Franck Gohier's True Tales from the Far North, Country & Western and It's All Fun & Games collections at the Ray Hughes Gallery (Sidney).

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