Bardang/Release exhibited for the first time at Earlywork in November, 2017 to mark the end of the lease at the Rottnest Quod

Quod as prison: 1856 – 1903.
Quod as tourist accommodation: 1911 – 2018

The exhibition presents aspects of the three participants’ personal stories in coming to know and understand the history of Wadjemup/Rottnest Island and that of the Quod building which was built to intern Aboriginal men from all over Western Australia and where at least 370 men died, many due to the inhuman conditions of their incarceration.

Returning; 370+ views of Rottnest

Ken Wadrop

371 double-sided
oil paintings on plywood

2017

  • Black Prison White Playground. Wadjemup/Rottnest Island. A beautiful place that is culturally and spiritually significant to Aboriginal people. And also a site where gross harm took place and hundreds of Aboriginal men are buried in unmarked graves.
    —Glen Stasiuk

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-25/rottnest-island-black-prison-to-white-playground/7962940

https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/earshot/rottnest-island-black-prison/7929860

Bardang|Release was exhibited at the Rottnest Island Salt Store for Reconciliation Week 2019 (27 May – 3 June) and was on display throughout NAIDOC week (7 July to 14 July 2019) and remained on exhibition until mid-October 2019.

Packing the Bardang Release exhibition into a crate to send to Wadjemup/Rottnest Island
Bardang Release exhibition packed into the crate ready to send to Wadjemup/Rottnest Island
Ken-Wadrop-Returning-(reverse-side)-Rottnest-Salt-store
Dr Glen Stasiuk opening Bardang-Release Rottnest Salt Store

Dr Glen Stasiuk opening Bardang-Release Rottnest Salt Store

Bardang Release exhibition detail Rottnest Salt Store
Bardang-Release-series of postcards with images of individual panels from 'Returning' Ken Wadrop.

A series of give-away postcards accompanied the exhibition at the Rottnest Island Salt Store

Bardang Release catalogue cover