Title

Freshwater Saltwater - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prints.

Collective title

Australian National Maratime Museum travelling exhibition

Venues

South Australian Maratime Museum (21 August 2010 – 24 October 2010)

Maitland Regional Art Gallery. (11 March 2011 – 1 May 2011)

Tweed River Art Gallery. (6 May 2011 – 7 August 2011)

Burnie Regional Art Gallery (16 December 2011 – 29 January 2012)

Bundaberg Arts Centre (30 May 2012 – 22 July 2012)

Bribie Island Seaside Museum (30 July 2012 – 1 October 2012)

Date

(2010 – 2012)

Summary

Multi-artist exhibition. Located: Australia. Prints.

Country of context

Australia

Abstract

Water holds deep spiritual and cultural significance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. The vast network of rivers, creeks, billabongs, lakes and coastal regions found across the country represent a rich source of food and culture for Indigenous Australians. Marine environments are places to hunt, fish and to have contact with non-Indigenous Australians. For this reason, water is central to dreaming stories and different forms of marine life are often used as family or clan totems.

In this exhibition of prints from the Australian National Maritime Museum, the artists have used printmaking as a medium for strengthening their cultural identity and their connection back to 'country'. Their vivid representations of marine life celebrate the survival of their communities and their struggle for land and sea rights and justice. All of their works commemorate the rich living relationship between Indigenous people and water in Australia. [exhibition media]