The Schatzkammer: A Treasury of Evidence

A triennial exhibition and award celebrating the ongoing achievement of some of Australia's most distinguished contemporary artists in 2006: Janangoo Butcher Cherel, Anne Ferran, Ivan Namirrkki, Bronwyn Oliver, Jacky Redgate, Ken Thaiday, Imants Tillers, Hossein Valamanesh, Toni Warburton, Judy Watson, Judith Wright and Baines. It is as unusual for a goldsmith to be invited into a national visual arts survey/prize as it is for contemporary art jewellery to provide commentary on political and popular culture. From the vantage point of goldsmith, Baines considers how formulated heritage is available for reference, questioning and modification. The option to copy, to replicate, or to modify the historic document jewellery, is a possibility. New input can verify authenticity or engender falsehood through the artistic reinterpretation. Inclusion of the bogus into that which is accepted as the standard or primary reference becomes subversion. Making fiction based on historical correctness addresses the question: Is it important to have an authentic material cultural history? There is a strong artistic concept here that challenges understandings of history, knowledge of technology and popular culture and is a unique statement adding to contemporary arts practice. The work housed material evidence of historical events authentically based on other actual jewellery, a rhapsody of jewellery occasions of beautiful caprice. It was a meeting of the far left and right of the political and social jewellery spectrum. This installation in the Clemenger Art Award was of a treasury room (Schatzkammer) housing 14 groups of works, featuring eighty-two objects primarily in precious materials and predominantly small sculptural works. This was exhibited at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia at Federation Square and toured Europe from 2008-10. Reviews: Penny Webb, 'The Age', 28/09/06; Dovey Dee & Libby Sullivan, Arts Hub Australia Oct. 16, 2006; Sue Green, Craft Victoria.