In a powerful role-reversal, artist and photographer Greg Semu imagines Australia's white colonizers in chains.
In a powerful role-reversal, artist and photographer Greg Semu imagines Australia's white colonizers in chains.
Greg Semu
For each scene he photographed, Semu created two corresponding images -- one recreating the past and a second in which the actors' roles were reversed. Semu hopes that the photos can encourage a constructive conversation about Aboriginal rights in Australia.
For each scene he photographed, Semu created two corresponding images -- one recreating the past and a second in which the actors' roles were reversed. Semu hopes that the photos can encourage a constructive conversation about Aboriginal rights in Australia.
Greg Semu
Recreating scenes depicted in colonial-era photographs, Semu put aboriginal Australians in the role of slave owners.
Recreating scenes depicted in colonial-era photographs, Semu put aboriginal Australians in the role of slave owners.
Greg Semu
"Historically, we've become desensitized to seeing black and ethnic minority groups being killed, raped, murdered and hanged," Semu said of his decision to experiment with role-reversal. "We've seen it before."
"Historically, we've become desensitized to seeing black and ethnic minority groups being killed, raped, murdered and hanged," Semu said of his decision to experiment with role-reversal. "We've seen it before."
Greg Semu
By casting white Australians as the oppressed, Semu wants to inspire viewers' empathy.
By casting white Australians as the oppressed, Semu wants to inspire viewers' empathy.
Greg Semu
"Can you imagine, for a moment, that it was your family being treated like that?" Semu asks.
"Can you imagine, for a moment, that it was your family being treated like that?" Semu asks.
Greg Semu
The photographs were recently exhibited at Cairns Art Gallery alongside the archive images that inspired them. Taped interviews with some of Coen's elders are also part of the exhibition.
The photographs were recently exhibited at Cairns Art Gallery alongside the archive images that inspired them. Taped interviews with some of Coen's elders are also part of the exhibition.
Greg Semu
"(Racial inequality) is not an aboriginal problem, it's an Australian-owned and -operated humanitarian crisis that's been going on for 200 years," Semu said. "We really need to solve this together."
"(Racial inequality) is not an aboriginal problem, it's an Australian-owned and -operated humanitarian crisis that's been going on for 200 years," Semu said. "We really need to solve this together."
Greg Semu
As well as paying the Coen residents who were cast in his photos, Semu hopes that his work can inspire the township's young Aboriginal Australians.
As well as paying the Coen residents who were cast in his photos, Semu hopes that his work can inspire the township's young Aboriginal Australians.
Greg Semu
Taken in Queensland, where Semu shot his recreated photographs, this image from 1913 shows indigenous men in the remote town of Aurukun.
Taken in Queensland, where Semu shot his recreated photographs, this image from 1913 shows indigenous men in the remote town of Aurukun.
Courtesy of John Oxley Library and State Library of Queensland
An archival image shows the type of scene that inspired Semu's work. Taken in 1896, this photo shows Aboriginal prisoners outside a jail in Roebourne, Western Australia.
An archival image shows the type of scene that inspired Semu's work. Taken in 1896, this photo shows Aboriginal prisoners outside a jail in Roebourne, Western Australia.
Courtesy of State Library of Western Australia