Bluey Roberts

Multi-skilled artist Bluey Roberts works across a range of mediums, maybe best known for his delicately carved emu eggs. The long tradition of these talismanic objects reaches back in both the aboriginal and European art tradition (where carvings were created on ostrich eggs). In his graphic style, a rich diversity of plants and animals come to life in paintings, murals and in carved or engraved objects, inspired he says, by his early life in the bush. Hunting in the bush, he learned to follow animal tracks and become familiar with their habits. Around the campfire, he learned the traditions of his people. He grew up in the lower Murray region of South Australia, the rich and fertile lands of the Coorong, and the river often features in his landscapes. Commercial farming and fishing practices have sadly destroyed much of the original biodiversity of this region. As a young man, Bluey turned to art when he was injured at work and stuck at home. He was inspired by the many different art styles that have roots in the various indigenous cultures, Albert Namatjira’s landscapes being among them. His art is about his life, Bluey says, the indigenous knowledge from the past lives on in stories, but it also starts with a strong feeling for the bush: “It's good to go back and see what the old people have done. It puts you on the right track...you can sit down and imagine and start working from there.” His career gathered momentum in the late 1980’s with several large public art commissions, including The Dancing Kangaroo mural at Adelaide Zoo and the footpath mural adorning the entrance to Tandanya, the National Indigenous Art and Craft centre in Adelaide. Bluey Roberts is represented by Flinders University Art Museum, South Australian Museum and National Gallery of Australia. © Adrian Newstead