White Australian artist is abused online for ‘copying Aboriginal art’ and ‘stealing indigenous culture’ by making traditional dot paintings
- Tasmanian Jessica Poland sold Indigenous-style dot paintings as Jessica James
- She was criticised by Indigenous people who say she has ignored their feedback
- Despite criticism over selling imitation Indigenous art she vowed to continue
- On Wednesday afternoons Poland removed her dot paintings from her Instagram
A young white artist who was abused on social media for selling Aboriginal-style dot paintings has apologised and admitted she was guilty of ‘cultural appropriation’.
Jessica Poland, who sells art in Hobart and online under the name Jessica James, sells dot paintings which resemble traditional Aboriginal artworks.
Ms Poland claims the dot technique helps to ‘reflect energy and vibrations’ and ‘the very fundamental truth of our nature here on earth’.
Tasmanian woman Jessica Poland, who sells art in Hobart and online under the name Jessica James, has been slammed for selling her own dot paintings which resemble traditional Aboriginal artworks
Ms Poland responded to the criticism on her Jessica James Instagram a week ago, apologising for causing offence – but she vowed to continue making her art
But she was attacked online as ‘disrespectful’ and her works called ‘a disgraceful appropriation of culture and art’.
Twitter complainers demanded she stop making her artwork, while others suggested she avoid profiting from it even if she privately kept making it.
Ms Poland at first responded to the criticism on her Jessica James Instagram, apologising for causing offence but vowing to continue.
‘I wasn’t taught that I could make indigenous art as a non-indigenous person. But that it was okay to use this style of applying paint to canvas to tell our own story,’ she said.
‘Which is what I have done and will continue to do through my art practice.
Ms Poland with one of her many Aboriginal-style dot paintings, which appear on her Instagram and artist website
‘I am not telling stories that are not mine to tell. I reiterate that the dots are used to reflect energies, moving energy, vibrations and the very fundamental truth of our life here on earth.’
After obviously receiving more feedback, Ms Poland responded again on Wednesday.
‘You have been heard. I am receiving an overwhelming level of messages with this similar theme,’ she said.
‘Last week I received advice from an Indigenous person that I need to be more upfront with my background and being non-Indigenous to ensure that people who want to support Indigenous artists can do fully informed of my background.’
Jessica Poland, who sells her dot paintings as Jessica James, claimed that she is telling her own story through her paintings
Another of Jessica Poland’s aka Jessica James’ dot paintings
She changed her Instagram bio to say: ‘Non-indigenous, taught art by indigenous and non-indigenous teachers – open to discussing.
On Wednesday afternoon Ms Poland apologised and promised to remove
‘I am sorry to anyone have caused offence to, she wrote on Wednesday afternoon.
After taking time to ‘educate’ herself and ‘find the right words of apology’ Ms Poland admitted ‘I can see what I was doing was wrong’.
‘I will be removing all images of artworks depicting or resembling Aboriginal symbolism.’
Minister for Indigenous Affairs Minister Ken Wyatt said last September that he would introducing a plan in 2021 to help ‘stamp out’ the creation of imitation indigenous artworks that might fool tourists into buying ‘fake’ paintings.
Daily Mail Australia approached Ms Poland, the Indigenous Art Code and the Arts Law Centre of Australia for comment.