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A painting of an Aboriginal woman – the great great grandmother of the artist – who was married to a white man, taken to England and displayed as a carnival curiosity is one of 140 artworks in a new exhibition at the Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery .

Artist Julie Dowling painted her ancestor, Melbin, a Badimia woman, in a 19th century gown which encases her whole body and has an exaggerated hoop skirt.

Melbin is part of the Look. Look Again exhibition drawn from the gallery’s Cruthers Collection of Women’s Art.

Look. Look Again examines issues such as identity, domestic and family life, gender and the body and colonisation through art movements including impressionism, modernism and new media.

Running from 20 October to 15 December, it brings neglected historical artists back into the light and showcases the work of newer and younger artists.

The exhibition is accompanied by an illustrated publication by UWA Publishing Custom, Into the Light , and a symposium, Are We There Yet? The symposium brings together national and international art historians, curators and artists to discuss issues facing women’s art and the contribution of women artists to Australian life and culture.

Published in UWA News , 29 October 2012