Gavin Wanganeen on His Journey from AFL Legend to Artist

By Ned Kelly, May 12, 2017

As an AFL player, Gavin Wanganeen won two Grand Finals, and became the first Aboriginal Australian to win the Brownlow Medal. But it seems being a sporting legend was not enough. He has now established himself as a respected artist, and his work will be on display in the foyer of the The Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai from today. We caught up with him to ask how the transition came about...

When did your love of art first manifest itself?
Growing up, I often would watch my mother and aunties paint. My whole family, in fact, are artists. I didn't ever think to try doing art myself, as I was so focused on footy back then.

Funnily enough, it was through footy that I began my first piece of art. There were a group of indigenous boys playing with me at Port Adelaide Power (Port Adelaide Football Club) and we were all claiming that our respective regions produced the best indigenous art.

I said to everyone, "Right, let's settle this by each doing a painting and whoever does the best one, wins!"

So I started the painting, but lost interest in it pretty quickly, as it is very time consuming doing all the dots. Eight years later my wife Pippa found the canvas rolled up in the garage and said, "Gavin, this is really good you need to finish it."

So I did, and then I just kept painting.

How easy was the switch from professional athlete to artist?
After retiring from AFL I spent a few years in the wilderness not really knowing what I wanted to do. The transition to art really only came about because Pippa wanted some art on our walls at home! It's just grown from there. It is great though to have another exciting career to look forward to.

Was there any stigma involved, what with Aussie rules being such a macho sport?
I think a lot of people have been surprised that I have transitioned from AFL legend to Artist. But then, people have also told me that I was an artist on the footy field, so maybe the two careers aren't so different after all!

Are there any parallels between the two pursuits?
I think to be an elite footy player you have to be creative and read the play. Intuition is really important; you don't think you just play. In a way my art uses the same methodology in that I just let the process happen organically rather than over think it.

Where do you derive your inspiration as an artist from?
My mother's people, the Kokatha people, are from the Western Desert in South Australia. In my culture there are lots of dreamtime stories about the stars with lots of significance and meaning.

Many of my paintings are about these stories in the stars. The night sky has always fascinated me. Once, when my wife Pippa and I were on a camping trip at Wardang Island - a very significant place for me - we saw a shooting star.

This prompted me to start painting about the night sky. My view of the night sky is looking down at it, rather than looking up. All my work actually comes from this perspective.

Who or what would you say are your influences?
I am influenced by my Kokatha ancestors, and in particular my great-grandfather Dick Davey, who was an incredible man. He was one of the first Aboriginal people of his era to buy his own land.

Back in his time, Aboriginal people were not afforded the same rights as he rest of the population, but he was so well respected by his own people and also by mainstream society that he was able to break through some of those barriers.

He was an incredible football player also, and played for his mission team Kooniba. Many of his great-grandchildren have also gone on to become successful football players in the AFL. To this day, he remains a source of inspiration to me, as he was a leader and an incredible human being.

Your mother was part of the Stolen Generation – was that an influence on you becoming and artist, and on your art itself?
Since becoming an artist, I have felt more connected to my culture and different aspects of my family history, such as my mother's experiences being of the Stolen Generation. It has been wonderful to be able to explore my family history and learn about all the stories from my ancestors. I look forward to expressing these stories through my art in time.

Your are also the third cousin of actress Natasha Wanganeen of Rabbit Proof Fence – a film that brought the Stolen Generation to a worldwide audience. How close are you with her?
We both have busy lives, but when we do catch up we always enjoy having a yarn! It's great to hear about her theater and upcoming shows, and chatting about what's been happening with the family.

We recently did an article together promoting a show she was in called The Secret River, which was met with high acclaim in Adelaide's recent Festival.

You also met Premier Li Keqiang and presented him with a shirt you designed (pictured above) – how did that come about?
It was a real honor having the opportunity to present Premier Li with a guernsey I designed. The design represented the Cultural Exchange that has existed between China and Aboriginal Australia since at least the Ming Dynasty.

When I gave Premier Li the Guernsey, he seemed genuinely interested in the significance of the design. I certainly got a sense that he is a man of great power and importance and so to have Premier Li accept my gift so graciously and with genuine appreciation was a true honor.

What can you tell us about the works you have chosen to display in Shanghai?
My favorite piece is a Star Dreaming in green. This series represents the night sky, but not looking up at the stars, rather looking down at them suspended from the highest point in space. I have titled this piece '8' as there are eight clusters of meteorites clearly moving across the picture.

I am also showing my first ever painting, 'Camping at Point Pearce,' along with two different 'Wild Flowers On Wardang.' I am also exhibiting the original design I presented to Premier Li.

How much did it mean to you to win the Brownlow Medal?
The Brownlow Medal is the highest honor you can receive in the sport of AFL, and it was a boyhood dream of mine. I was only 20 years old when I won the medal, and the first ever Aboriginal man to win it, so it was a fairly significant moment for me.

Did the medal mean all the more for being the first Aboriginal Australian to win it?
Yes, it meant a lot for my family and my mum's people, as in being the first Aboriginal man to win, I was representing them too. To be able to inspire a younger generation of Indigenous kids to chase their dreams and achieve incredible things meant so much.

You are from a footballing family right back to your great-grandfather – and your son is a bit of a player already. Will you be encouraging him to follow suit?
My Mum's brothers we all great footballers and she used to take me to play from a very young age, so it is definitely in our blood. Tex enjoys his footy and I will encourage him and help him out from time to time, but the main thing is that he enjoys it.