Exhibition: Fri 23 Aug – Sat 11 Jan
Launch: 6.00pm, Fri 23 Aug
A time and space to connect
Since time immemorial, First Nations people's cultural identity are formed by their bloodlines, kinship systems, and connection to their Country. Indigenous cultural practices are maintained through rituals, storytelling, oral history, dance, song, and art making. Each group is connected by their sense of culture, honour, and knowledge. Colonialism in its essence sought to destroy, divide, and disconnect Sovereign First Nations people from Culture, Country, and each other. Despite attempts to extinguish and assimilate First Nations people, they continued to practice and maintain culture through traditional or contemporary forms of cultural and artistic expression.
(re)connection: Culture, Country & People will be the first exhibition at the newly refurbished Mulgrave Gallery. The layers of history that inhabit the former iteration of the space need to be stripped back to the land on which the building stands. Acknowledging the layers of meaning from the original name, through to the structure of the building itself and its colonial function, to its new iteration and what it will represent as a First Nations focussed Gallery to reclaim the site and create a Sovereign space.
(re)connection is an opportunity for artists and audiences to reconnect with Country, Culture, and People, to situate themselves as already having a connection, or to reconnect through their artwork.
Curated by Peggy Kasabad Lane
Artists and contributors: Tony Albert & Erica Muri-ata, Simone Arnol & Bernard Singleton Jnr, Vincent Babia, Solomon Booth, Hendrick Fourmile, David Hudson, Elverina Johnson, Nancy Kiwat, Tania Major Fiona Mosby, Harry Nona, Teho Ropeyarn, Zane Saunders + Bonemap, Merindi Schrieber, Lesley Wengembo Image Credit: Crop Circles in Yogya #3, unique edition pigment print on paper with hand embellishment, by Tony Albert