dishevel books, an independent publisher of art-related titles with a bent for subjects sassy, scholarly and subversive …
Maurice O’Riordan, De Latour Street, Coconut Grove, Darwin, 2023, digital photograph; © Maurice O’Riordan
Intro
Founded in 2023, dishevel books is an initiative of Darwin-based writer and curator Maurice O’Riordan. Maurice is a former editor of Art Monthly Australasia (2008-14) and director of Northern Centre for Contemporary Art, Darwin (2014-17). He currently works for Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education at Batchelor Press. Maurice has written extensively on the visual arts over the past three decades. He has curated/co-curated numerous exhibitions. Recent examples include Gary Lee — midling (Coconut Studios, Darwin, 10 August to 9 September 2023) and Queer Territory (Northern Centre for Contemporary Art, 15 May to 12 July 2025). midling launched our debut title, Heat: Gary Lee, selected writings, art & anthropology, while Queer Territory launches Candid enigma, the artful adventures of Andrew Hau Ewing.
Dishevel books is not currently receiving book proposals or manuscripts.
Retailer and distributor enquiries are welcome.
midling: Larrakia language - 'together’
Gary Lee, Frank, 2006, newly editioned 2023, type C print on Ilford cottonrag paper 25.95 x 31.94cm (paper); edition: 2 x A/P + 3; © Gary Lee; enquiries Coconut Studios, Darwin: www.coconutstudios.com
titles - current / forthcoming
$120 + postage/packaging-handling first edition published August 2023
Heat: Gary Lee, selected texts, art & anthropology
Gary Lee, Keep Him My Heart, A Larrakia-Filipino Love Story
$35 + postage/packaging-handling first edition published June 2024
Candid enigma, the artful adventures of Andrew Hau Ewing
to be launched 15 May 2025 in association with the Queer Territory exhibition, Northern Centre for Contemporary Art, Darwin
Feel free to follow our out-and-about antics on the odd Facebook post: (3) Facebook
outro
Poster display, Nightcliff IGA entrance, Darwin, August 2023, photo: Maurice O’Riordan
Gary in Sydney, c. mid-’80s wearing a T-shirt from Tiwi Design
with ‘Lizard design print’ by Angelo Munkara and Ray Young; photographer unknown
Reproduced in the article Aboriginal art ripoff, Heat: Gary Lee …, p. 41
Article first published in G. Lee. (1988). Foreword, Worona, ANU newspaper, 24 March 1988.
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Gary Lee, sketch for see-through kimono blouse, c. 1981, pen on A4 paper, © Gary Lee
reproduced in the article So in that sense, Aboriginal gay, Heat: Gary Lee …, p. 172
Article first published in Hodge, D. (1993). Did you meet any malagas? A homosexual history of Australia’s tropical capital. Darwin: Little Gem Publications