This project brings together key cultural leaders, voices, and artists from South Sulawesi, Papua, and Northern Australia to ask how pre-colonial exchanges between East Indonesia and Northern Australia might inform contemporary creative futures.
The workshop responds to long-standing pre-colonial relationships between First Nations communities of Northern and North West Australia and maritime traders from the Indonesian archipelago. Along with the trading of goods, these seafarers participated in a rich exchange of language, culture, and knowledge with First Nations communities along the coastline. This came to an abrupt halt in the mid-twentieth century, when the hard borders of nation-states forced the end of multiple generations of exchange.
By establishing relationships, trust, and shared artistic understanding, the workshop aims to set a foundation for developing a network that will shape ongoing artistic exchange between Australia and Indonesia and lead to a new artistic work of scale.
Chris Griffiths is a Miriwoong, Ngaliwurru, and Karangpurru cultural leader, songman, dancer, and composer.
