Archie Moore

Archie Moore is a descendant of the Kamilaroi and Bigambul peoples of New South Wales and Queensland. Born on Giabal Country in Toowoomba in 1970, he now lives and works on Quandamooka Country at Ngudooroo (Lamb Island), Queensland.

In Remnants Of My Father, located at the Museum of Economic Botany at the Adelaide Botanic Garden, Archie Moore creates a portrait of his father, Stanley Moore (1908–1994). Rather than being presented with his father’s likeness, audiences come to an understanding of Stanley through the objects and papers he left behind.

The artist remembers that his father had reassured the family that they would not remain poor, since he knew of a gold deposit that would change their fortunes. Stanley never struck it rich however, dying of prostate cancer before finding the buried treasure. By including pyrite (commonly known as ‘fool’s gold’) in his portrait of Stanley, Archie demonstrates how the allure of prosperity can make fools of us all.