How migrating to the 'wild' world of Darwin as a child inspired Franck Gohier's artistic career

Australia Broadcast Center

a day ago

Artist Franck Gohier is part of the artistic fabric of Darwin, but, when he arrived from France with his parents 50 years ago, the cyclone-ravaged outpost was like an alien universe.
"It was like being on another planet, or in a science fiction movie or something," he says.
"It was pretty wild."
That impression reverberates in the vast body of work the painter, sculptor and printmaker has produced since he started making art in the 1980s, at times weaving Northern Territory and French culture seamlessly.
His work is exhibited in galleries across Australia and overseas, sharing his unique take on all things typically Territorian with the broader world.
Gohier grew up around his parents' demolition business during the clean-up after Cyclone Tracy, and much of his early years were spent foraging around the mangroves as an amateur archaeologist.
"That still informs my work to a great deal," he says.
"There's lots of strata, lots of history, the detritus of other people's stories, which I bring into new contemporary storytelling as well.
"Some of those objects that I find, I also incorporate into the artwork, to give them more layering and more meaning."
Gohier studied art at the former NT University, now known as Charles Darwin University (CDU), and this year has come full circle with a residency and fellowship at the new Danala art building at the CDU city campus.
He's currently working on a body of work to greet visitors to the planned Northern Territory Art Gallery in Darwin — the content of which is under wraps, but is sure to be true to the territory.
Gohier's work features the history of the territory, flavoured with political and social consciousness.
Consistently curious, just reading about the history of doctors and bush nurses who went out to work in remote communities inspired Gohier to head out that way too.
Over the years, he has covered the Kimberley, Central Australia, Arnhem Land and the Tiwi Islands.
"I learned a great deal about Indigenous culture, about land rights, about the different seasons, about fishing, about hunting," he says.
"And in turn, I hope I imparted some knowledge as well, with my screen printing and printmaking skills."
Gohier says he hopes those skills can help Indigenous communities when it comes to generating income from their art.
"[It] just became another tier to help Indigenous artists to pay for their communities and their art centres," he says.
The big-ticket artworks take time to create and sell, according to the Darwin-based artist.
"So instead of the artists in the community having to wait for the huge painting to sell, there's always bread-and-butter money coming in from the printmaking as well," Gohier says.
His community work has also extended to developing an art program in Berrimah Prison in 1996, under the former Ending Offending program.
That involved Indigenous inmates being taught art skills by guest Aboriginal elders, as both a form of therapy and skill-building for life.
"My job there was just to make the project run smoothly and to facilitate that process and to culminate in a huge exhibition," Gohier says.
"That show was really successful, both inside and outside."
Over the years, Gohier has donated much of his work back to the Darwin community.
He believes that no matter where you live, you can make art.
"Have a look around you. What are the things that are right in front of your face, where you're at, and use that as your source material," he says.
The Territorian is certainly a testament to that advice.
"I've never really tried to make my art have a wider appeal or an international appeal or anything else," he says.
"I'm just interested in the vitality of my own experiences and the honesty that comes out of that about storytelling.