‘Superpowered on Tour’, four fun and engaging interactive projects for kids, developed by First Nations Australian artists in collaboration with the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA), will be presented at the Banana Shire Regional Art Gallery on Saturday 4th March, 2023.

Young visitors at Gordon Hookey’s Make A Roo 2013 in ‘Superpowered’, Children’s Art Centre, Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane, 2022 / © Gordon Hookey / Photograph: Katie Bennett © QAGOMA

Tony Albert (Girramay/Yidinyji/Kuku Yalanji peoples), Gordon Hookey (Waanyi people), Vincent Namatjira (Western Aranda people) and Kaylene Whiskey (Yankunytjatjara people) are leading Indigenous Australian artists who use their voice and their art to empower Aboriginal people and create inspirational imagery for all children.

QAGOMA Director Chris Saines said ‘Superpowered on Tour’ would be presented from December 2022 to July 2023 in more than 180 art galleries, libraries and schools across remote and regional Queensland.

‘These artists have created interactives that focus on strong empowering messages and humour. They will invite young audiences into a world full of amusing and courageous characters,’ Mr Saines said.

‘Since 1998, QAGOMA has collaborated with more than 300 Australian and international contemporary artists and the Gallery’s Children’s Art Centre is a leader in developing interactive projects, activities and publications that engage children with contemporary cultures, artists and ideas.

‘QAGOMA’s annual ‘Kids on Tour’ program provides this content free of charge to communities throughout Queensland,’ he said.

Tony Albert often works closely with other artists, communities and organisations. He believes that one of the best ways to learn from and connect with people is to live and work together. Albert’s activity for ‘Superpowered on Tour’ is Warakurna Warriors. It invites children to create their own superhero identity and they can design their own costume using a template and trace a selection of outfits adding details and colour. This activity was inspired by Albert’s photographic series Warakurna Superheroes 2017, made in collaboration with children from Warakurna in Western Australia.

Gordon Hookey’s artworks are inspired by Australian history and everyday life, often using native Australian animals to represent Indigenous Australians. Hookey’s interactive for ‘Superpowered on Tour’ is Make a Roo, and it invites children to choose from a number of kangaroo mask templates. Children can customise their own design, wear the mask and ‘hop into character’.

Artist Vincent Namatjira paints lively, expressive portraits of historical figures, international heads of state, and public figures. His activity, Power Portraits, invites children to adopt ‘power icons’ such as crowns and hats in the form of paper props and pose for a photograph in front of a fun paper backdrop.

Kaylene Whiskey’s colourful, humorous paintings celebrate strong kungkas (women). Whiskey often paints images of herself and her heroes – pop culture icons such as Dolly Parton and Wonder Woman – having fun in her remote community or engaging in traditional activities like collecting bush tucker. In ‘Superpowered on Tour’ Whiskey invites children to draw a Super Party picture, a scene featuring their own heroes using coloured pencils and cut out pictures from a collage sheet.

For more information about ‘Superpowered on Tour’ visit www.qagoma.qld.gov.au