Bell's Theorem
“One of the most provocative and uncompromisingly brilliant of today’s crop of contemporary indigenous artists, the raucous, rebellious and rampaging Richard Bell has pulled his best stunt yet by winning the prestigious 20th Telstra National Aboriginal Arts Award in August 2003. His winning entry was titled Scienta E Metaphysica (Bell’s Theorem), or “Aboriginal Art Its a White Thing”. He caused a minor sensation when presented with the award at a ceremony in Darwin when he wore one of the more provocative of his range of personally designed T-Shirts which caused an instant knee-jerk reaction from the ever so politically correct ones at the gathering. As a result he was pilloried in the NT government chamber by no less than Chief Minister Clare Martin, which delighted Richard because of the invaluable national publicity it generated for him, his work and his win!”
Gary Foley, “Great Moments in Indigenous History: Rampaging Richard Bell Wins Telstra National Aboriginal Arts Award.” The Koori History Website Project.
Read Bell’s Theorem here.