Raymond Young

Battle Lines

26 June — 11 July 2017

1966, Melbourne
Lives and works in Melbourne
Gunnai, Yorta Yorta and Gunditjmara

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Raymond Young is of Gunnai, Yorta Yorta and Gunditjmara descent. He was born in 1966 in Melbourne and currently has no fixed address, moving from one studio space to another. Young learnt how to make ceramics and developed his art skills through the Statewide Indigenous Arts in Prisons and Community Pilot Program. While incarcerated in Loddon Prison, he was given access to Gunnai shield designs from the Gippsland area, inspiring him to work in clay and create pots and shields that connected him to his culture. 

The shields exhibited in Battle Lines are created to resemble those made by past generations, particularly at the time of first contact. The shields of the nation’s Indigenous people were no defence against European weaponry—they display the physical signs of domestic use and deliberately bear the marks of time. 

The title of this exhibition is a reference to Young’s personal life—the battle lines are the artificial boundaries he has drawn as he struggles to overcome his addiction to substance abuse, homelessness and family violence. He has fought this battle all his life, and making ceramics has been instrumental in his healing process. He says, “working with clay gives me a direction and helps me focus on something positive. Each shield is different to the next. I want each piece to have a personality. I want them to represent the elders and carry the wisdom and knowledge like they do; that’s who my shields represent”.

Raymond Young’s artwork was included in the exhibition Melbourne Now at the National Gallery of Victoria in 2014. He was also represented in CONFINED 5, 6 and 7—a project encouraging Indigenous Australians who have been incarcerated or are presently imprisoned, to create artwork for the exhibition. Young’s work is currently on display in Wominjeka: A New Beginning which traces cultural continuities and explores new modes of creative practice in South Eastern Aboriginal art and cultures. His work is held in the National Gallery of Victoria Collection, the Shepparton Art Gallery and the Koorie Heritage Trust Collection. He won the top prize in the Victorian Indigenous Art Award for three-dimensional works at the Ballarat Art Gallery in 2015.

Ken McGregor
June, 2017

The Australian p.3 by Ashleigh Wilson, Arts Editor "Big names pitch in for those on a sticky wicket", 29 Jul 2017

View Channel 7 Sunrise story (23 June 2017) about former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett's new "Torch Foundation" which supports Indigenous inmates with an "arts in prisons" program. Raymond Young is interviewed. 

Listen to Raymond Young on ABC Radio National (Tue 11 Aug, 2015) talking about his work and the Torch Foundation (interview starts at 35.54 mins)

\ Exhibition featured works

Raymond Young

Ceramic Shield 1

2017 \ Clay, ceramic \ 54x13cm

SOLD

Raymond Young

Ceramic Shield 10

2017 \ Clay, ceramic \ 57x12cm

SOLD

Raymond Young

Ceramic Shield 11

2017 \ Clay, ceramic \ 56x13cm

SOLD

Raymond Young

Ceramic Shield 12

2017 \ Clay, ceramic \ 53x13cm

SOLD

Raymond Young

Ceramic Shield 13

2017 \ Clay, ceramic \ 62x14cm

SOLD

Raymond Young

Ceramic Shield 14

2017 \ Clay, ceramic \ 48x18cm

SOLD

Raymond Young

Ceramic Shield 15

2017 \ Clay, ceramic \ 48x19cm

SOLD

Raymond Young

Ceramic Shield 16

2017 \ Clay, ceramic \ 45x20cm

SOLD

Raymond Young

Ceramic Shield 17

2017 \ Clay, ceramic \ 48x21cm

SOLD

Raymond Young

Ceramic Shield 18

2017 \ Clay, ceramic \ 71x13cm

SOLD

Raymond Young

Ceramic Shield 19

2017 \ Clay, ceramic \ 62x12cm

SOLD

Raymond Young

Ceramic Shield 2

2017 \ Clay, ceramic \ 51x12cm

SOLD

Raymond Young

Ceramic Shield 20

2017 \ Clay, ceramic \ 50x30cm

SOLD

Raymond Young

Ceramic Shield 21

2017 \ Clay, ceramic \ 63x13.5cm

SOLD

Raymond Young

Ceramic Shield 22

2017 \ Clay, ceramic \ 60x12cm

SOLD

Raymond Young

Ceramic Shield 23

2017 \ Clay, ceramic \ 84x11cm

SOLD

Raymond Young

Ceramic Shield 24

2017 \ Clay, ceramic \ 73x11.5cm

SOLD

Raymond Young

Ceramic Shield 25

2017 \ Clay, ceramic \ 81x11.5cm

SOLD

Raymond Young

Ceramic Shield 26

2017 \ Clay, ceramic \ 62x23cm

SOLD

Raymond Young

Ceramic Shield 27

2017 \ Clay, ceramic \ 63x14cm

Raymond Young

Ceramic Shield 28

2017 \ Clay, ceramic \ 52x12cm

SOLD

Raymond Young

Ceramic Shield 29

2017 \ Clay, ceramic \ 38x8cm

SOLD

Raymond Young

Ceramic Shield 3

2017 \ Clay, ceramic \ 52x13cm

Raymond Young

Ceramic Shield 30

2017 \ Clay, ceramic \ 60x13cm

SOLD

Raymond Young

Ceramic Shield 31

2017 \ Clay, ceramic \ 60x13cm

SOLD

Raymond Young

Ceramic Shield 32

2017 \ Clay, ceramic \ 58.5x16cm

Raymond Young

Ceramic Shield 33

2017 \ Clay, ceramic \ 64x14.5cm

SOLD

Raymond Young

Ceramic Shield 34

2017 \ Clay, ceramic \ 64x25cm

SOLD

Raymond Young

Ceramic Shield 35

2017 \ Clay, ceramic \ 65x17cm

Raymond Young

Ceramic Shield 36

2017 \ Clay, ceramic \ 60x22cm

SOLD

Raymond Young

Ceramic Shield 4

2017 \ Clay, ceramic \ 57x11cm

SOLD

Raymond Young

Ceramic Shield 5

2017 \ Clay, ceramic \ 57x12cm

SOLD

Raymond Young

Ceramic Shield 6

2016 \ Clay, ceramic \ 56x11cm

SOLD

Raymond Young

Ceramic Shield 7

2017 \ Clay, ceramic \ 57x13cm

Raymond Young

Ceramic Shield 8

2017 \ Clay, ceramic \ 63x13cm

SOLD

Raymond Young

Ceramic Shield 9

2017 \ Clay, ceramic \ 54x13cm

SOLD

\ Other exhibitions

David Fairbairn

THE SPACE BETWEEN THE LINES

24 October — 16 November 2024

Adam Nudelman

UNDER THE CANOPY OF A LOST PARADISE

23 October — 16 November 2024

Jun Chen

RED LAND

24 September — 19 October 2024

Contact Us

to find out more about Battle Lines.

12 - 14 Meagher Street Chippendale, NSW 2008
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm Saturday, 11am - 4pm Closed Public Holidays (and Easter Saturday)