Richard Bell is an internationally acclaimed painter and installation artist. His work, 'Embassy' has been mounted internationally, stoking sovereignty arguments for First Nations people all over the world. Richard is a provocateur from Queensland with a long history in activism which he brings to his sophisticated and philosophical paintings. But his method is bold and brash, with bright paintings containing slogans that take the piss out of colonialism. His work shouts, 'Free Black Australia', 'Pardon Me For Being Born Into A Nation Of Racists', 'Australia: Drive It You Stole It', and 'Give It All Back'. Richard is funny, smart and disrespectful.
He turned the art world on its head by winning the $40,000 Telstra Art Prize in 2003 with his painting, "Aboriginal Art; It's A White Thing", and then set off a storm by collecting the prize in a t-shirt that read 'White Girls Can't Hump'. He laughed gleefully at the outrage and accusations of racial stereotyping, of course.
Although he claims to be an activist masquerading as an artist, his post-modern art thievery and galloping practice have elevated his naïve, art brut style to the pinnacle of modern art. Reflecting on his work in this film are international gallerists and artists, and homegrown contributors like Linda Burney (Minister for First Nations people), and Gary Foley.
Underpinning the art career, we get a background history lesson from the constitutional referendum in 1967, through the 1972 Tent Embassy, Redfern and on up to the present day. The film is directed by the outstanding broadcaster, Larissa Behrendt.
