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Lloyd Nolan Hornsby (b. 1947) is a Koori (descendent of the NSW aboriginal Yuin people). His passion and talent fo r art manifested in childhood and developed while in his adolescence. In fact, he wooed his childhood sweetheart, Wendy (now his wife of some 38 years), with gifts of his paintings and carvings. Upon leaving school he trained as a Commercial Artist, leading to a job as a window dresser for McDonald & East before working as a metal polisher in the aluminium industry, where he honed his skills in metallurgy and anodising. Managing an anodising plant for a Multi National Company until he retired from that at the age of 38 and went into business for himself. Lloyd never paints on location, he use knowledge and observation as a basis for finished paintings. His artwork comes together using the traditional dot technic used widely by the northern Indigenous artists. Lloyd's strong knowledgebase of sketching and drawing are evident in the detail with his bold use of colour to finish the experience. Nolan Hornsby lives in Brisbane, Queensland with his wife, Wendy with their two daughters Amanda and Raquel living close by with their husbands and children
Artist Biographical Statement
At the age of 60 my learning is continuing today through the discovery of Aboriginal culture and life. Through the passing down of stories and life experiences, all are adding to the richness of my understanding. Aboriginal culture is focused on recording the origins of life (Dreamtime). My life’s journey has been one of turmoil, anger and emotional highs and lows. Being part of the stolen generation has taken me from the point of anger for being denied the experience of being Aboriginal, to understanding why these choices were made. This part of my journey left me struggling for some time with my emotions.
This loss of culture evoked some of my deepest feelings, to be reflected through my painting of Creation, Warrior Dreaming, Spirit of Innocence and Father Spirit being part of my Celestial Series and my linking to the Dreamtime. In support of the healing process for the generation of Aboriginal children, mothers, fathers and families of the Stolen Generation, I have committed to canvas a series of paintings depicting the lost spirits of Aboriginal Children. The next stage of my journey took me to a different level of understanding of the justice system, touching me to my inner core; where I could envisage what life was like before first contact to what had been endured over the past two hundred years. So profound was the effect on me I committed this image to canvas. I created Aboriginal Lore.
These pieces of art have had a profound effect on white Australians who have viewed this work through my exhibitions. The general comment from the public was that it made the viewer feel the same connection to the past as the artist by the way the image evoked their emotions. This artwork also had a profound effect on close and distant family members. Once they saw this work, they realised my deep connection to my Aboriginality, and are now walking with me in support. What does it mean to truly understand another person? I believe it is through empathy, the process by which we take the place of another, near or far, known or unknown. Empathy bridges the distance between human experiences, (Black and White) binding us to another in deeply personal ways that reflect our potential for shared experience and compassion.
We have to know our history; we are people of our generation. We can look back with admiration, and hope to have some of those qualities that help us to remain true to our time. We have to acknowledge the complexities of our generation – our status and our connections. Through the approval of my community and family it has been acknowledged in my art that I have shown the positive of the dreamtime and how it was for the past 60,000years – I have endeavoured to carry on the age old tradition of telling Dreamtime and Historical stories through my art, in a passive mode. My journey into the future will be reflected in my next series of paintings ’On the surface’.
EXHIBITIONS
2010 Mt Isa TAFE
2010 Cultural Centre Townsville
2011 Mt Isa TAFE
2011 Cultural Centre Townsville
2011 North Lakes Health Precinct
2007 Queensland State Library – East Coast Aboriginal Art Exhibition
2007 2006 Collection – Noosa Regional Art Gallery Noosa
2007 My Stories – Pine Rivers Regional Art Gallery
2008 Lloyd Hornsby Gawura and Friends - Graydon Gallery New Farm
2008 Heart Foundation East Coast Aboriginal Art Exhibition Queensland State Library
2009 Queensland State Library
2009 Convention Centre South Bank, Brisbane
2009 Cairns TAFE Queensland
2009 Townsville Cultural Centre
2009 Armidale Cultural Centre -
ACADEMIC TRAINING
1964 Diploma Commercial Art – Queensland College of Art
2009 Graduate Bachelor of Australian Contemporary Indigenous Art Griffith University, South Brisbane
COLLECTIONS
Pine Rivers Regional Art Collection,
Private and Corporate Art Collections in Australia, England.
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