Robert Fielding (born 1959) is an Australian artist based in Mimili, South Australia. He is known for his recent series of photographs of wrecked cars and other discarded objects on which he has painted colourful designs.
Fielding works across several mediums, including installations, photography, painting,[4] film and sculpture.[2] and is based at Mimili Maku Arts. He has also developed skills in writing, curating, and installing exhibitions.[4]
He conducted research in the archives of museums across Australia as part of the Australia Council for the Arts' Signature Works Innovation Lab.[4] During the closure of APY Lands during the COVID-19 pandemic, worked on Fielding led a research project with the South Australian Museum focusing on intergenerational learning and cultural maintenance.[5]
Fielding has created photographs of abandoned objects of modern life such as wrecked cars, decorated with Aboriginal artistic motifs and references to his community, which have featured in exhibitions, such as the installation entitled Holden On which featured in the 4th National Indigenous Art Triennial.[6][3]
Fielding created a series of photographs called Mayatjara, comprising photographs of traditional owners, respected leaders and elders, advocates and artists from the APY Lands. It went on display at the Ballarat International Foto Biennale at the Art Gallery of Ballarat in 2021, and was being acquired by the National Portrait GalleryinCanberra in August 2022.[7]
2017: Finalist, Macquarie Group Foundation First Nations Emerging Curator Award,[7] which gave him the opportunity to undertake an exchange to Canada[4]
2017: Winner, NATSIAA Telstra Work on Paper Award[7]
Fielding is interviewed in the 2018 SBS/NITV documentary, "Voice From The Desert", part of the Our Stories series, featuring his son's duo Electric Fields.[10]
The 2019 short film "Electric Mimili", part of the Deadly Family Portrait series, was shown on ABC Television and iview. This film, directed by Isaac Cohen Lindsay and produced by Sierra Schrader, focuses on Fielding and son Zaachariaha's family and life in Mimili, and how both father and son have been influenced by these.[11]
