This is the catalogue for the only solo show Gordon Bennett had in the UK (he passed in 2014). I know a small amount about him: his mother was part of the stolen generation1 and Bennett was raised without any recognition of his/his mother's Aboriginal heritage most likely due to the fact that when he was growing up Queensland (where I also grew up) Aboriginal people were (and still are) policed heavily in the central city districts as a continuation of policed curfews and segration laws based on 19th century boundary markers23.

After looking up Gordon Bennett, via an obituary/article by the artist Richard Bell4 came to art in his 30s and was keen to be known as a contemporary artist and escape the label of Aboriginal artist. I do think this book positions him as a serious and critical contemporary artist, which hopefully he would have been pleased about, the tone and graphic style is very of its time.

I find it interesting that an exhibition that began in the council run (under the Lord Mayor Jim Soorley5)Brisbane City Art Gallery made its way to both Birmingham and Oslo. I wonder how often that happens?

Bennett's work, his style and politics, come through strong in the book, I think its a pretty decent publication on first and fast encounter.