In his latest exhibition, Marrambang Meeting Place, the artist has immortalised the hard working staff of the Pejar Aboriginal Lands Council on canvas.

He has employed his signature documentary style, getting right up into the faces of his subjects, to create a series of honest portraits that captures their spirit.

“(The Pejar Aboriginal Lands Council) does a lot but they are virtually invisible here in town, with the exception of Alfie (Walker) of course who is on Council and has a very good public profile and does a lot of community work…” he said.

“I’ve been conscious of the stereotyping of (indigenous people), not just here in town but all over the place…so I wanted to allow the community to come here and see them like this.”

The exhibition is a collaboration between Carter, Sydney based artist Adam Hill (aka the Black Douglas) and Canberra’s Peter Swain. All three are members of different clans and brought their own unique experiences the display.

The local only discovered his indigenous heritage 15 years ago. His paternal grandmother was a full an Aboriginal but his family chose to keep it a secret.

He was told the truth by his mother when she was on her death bed.

In putting together the exhibition he also encountered some interesting responses from potential subjects, with many people not wanting to advertise their ethnicity.

While there has been a massive amount of progress made in the reconciliation process and a lot of work has been done to remove racial stigma, Carter felt it still existed.

He said there was still a negative stereotype and what he was interested in was looking beyond the generalizations to capture what it really meant to be indigenous in contemporary Australia.

“When you look at the photos I did try to put in an inkling of the heritage but there is nothing really in there to say these people aren’t who they are…” he explained.

“I thought that the faces were the significant issue, the eyes and the way the individuals related to me. I didn’t want them looking into the lens, I wanted them to be on a different plain and I think I achieved that.”

The artist believes these types of exhibitions are important. The culture of our first Australians is one of oral history, passed down from one generation to the next. In order for that to continue youngsters who identify need to engage with the traditions if they are to continue.

Carter’s series is also a comment on multiculturalism and the culture all Australian’s now share with one another.

“Purposely I tried to make them be like everybody else,” he explained.

“A lot of us today are invisible, not because we want to be, but because in the great melting pot we are all the same. So, I think these works show that the people in them, unless you were to put a great big sign up that said we are aboriginals they would pass as anybody. That was my aim and I think I achieved it.”

Carter’s collection also includes a portrait of Swain’s artistic collaborator Ellis.