In this section, you will investigate some of the artworks by Hope that depict the many and varied influences on her art. Hope depicts the changing nature of her art, influences on her art, and the changing nature of Aboriginal culture. Artists like Hope are influenced by the environment, other artists and artworks, past and present experiences; almost any aspect of their life.

Through investigations, you are asked to

• explain how Hope’s art has been influenced
• identify aspects of the influence in her art; changes in her art as a result of the influences
• consider why Hope has chosen to depict these aspects of life in your paintings
• evaluate how effectively Hope adapted the influences into her work

The main focus is to answer the key questions at the beginning of the tasks and record your thinking in your journal. Answers can take many forms such as words, sketches, diagrams.

This painting depicts the measures taken to enforce government legislation concerning the removal of children. The Colonial Secretary, A.H. Palmer, issued the following orders to Benches of Magistrates, Members of the Police Force and others on 21 October, 1881:

“The attention of the Government having been directed to the fact that there are, amongst the Aboriginals in various parts of the colony, a number of half-caste children for whose education and moral training it is deemed advisable that immediate steps should be taken:  Benches of Magistrates… are requested to procure the arrest of all such children, with the view of treating them as ‘neglected children’ under the Industrial and Reformatory Schools Act of 1865.

The message of HOPE is portrayed in the sheltering of the mother and child behind the boulders. The protection of Aboriginal spirituality is captured in handprints and symbols embedded in the landscape.

Assimilation

The objective of government policy was to educate and ‘civilise’ the children.

Our chief hope is decidedly with the children and the complete success as far as regards their education would be before us, if it were possible to remove them from the influence of their parents. (Protectors Report-1939)

This quote summarises the plight of many Aboriginal children who were forcibly taken from their families to be educated and in due course trained for domestic and farm labor