Premio Combat Prize

Reveal is from a body of work title KELOID.
Keloid is a long term project that unfolds in stages.
’Stage one – Confronting shame’ searches personal histories to explore the impact of colonisation on the identity of the coloniser.
Reveal deal with my discomfort in looking at the past in the light of my experience of my late husband’s intergenerational trauma as an Aboriginal man, as a consequence of actions taken by a society my ancestors belonged to.’
Megan Evans is an interdisciplinary artist, working in video, photography, sculpture and installation. These media build on a traditional background in painting and drawing. Megan’s work is informed by social issues. It examines the nature of belonging and the impact of colonisation on identity, both self and nation. Identity is a recurring issue in Australia for both artists and the broader public alike. Who we are as individuals and national entities is problematic to define.

‘My work examines the traces of early colonial history in the identity of the artist and the impact of that history as it unfolds today. My family history goes back to the early 1800’s. Originally from Scotland and Ireland, my ancestors were early colonisers. In 1983 I met and later married Indigenous artist and activist the late Les Griggs. Les was one of the Stolen Generation, a government policy of forced removal of Aboriginal children from their families that was conducted until the early 1970’s. Through my relationship with him, I began to understand the full impact of colonisation in Australia. My recent work explores the common issues related to colonisation across the globe’

Megan began her creative life doing large political murals in the 1980’s. Her career has spanned several decades and practices. Over the last five years she has exhibited both nationally and internationally, been published widely in books and journals and been awarded international residencies.

Megan was recently the resident artist at the Royal Standard, hosted by the Liverpool Biennale through the Australia Council Residency program. This was followed by a further residency at BOXOprojects in Joshua Tree, California in the USA.

Her recent solo exhibitions include MEET YOUR CRIMINAL ANCESTORS at The Royal Standard, Liverpool UK; SIMPLICITY at BoxoProjects, Joshua Tree California USA; TO Bee at BoxoFFICE New York, NY and REQUIEM at G3 Art Space, Parkdale Victoria Australia. Selected group exhibitions include The Meek Shall Inherit at BoxoFFICE New York and 2010 National Photography Prize Albury Art Gallery, Victoria, Australia.