OBSERVANCE

Observance
Curated by Hannah Presley and Samantha Comte

Observance brings together six First Nations women with strong culturally led practices. Offering a selection of works that delve into the ongoing impacts of colonial violence, artists share their experiences of generational grief for family, language and Country. These challenging narratives, including accounts of slavery and servitude, sit alongside empowering works that reveal living, breathing connections to culture that have been maintained throughout all time.

The act of observing requires a commitment to recognise and honour what is viewed, to look deeply at the works and consider our shared histories and responsibilities. Through videos, paintings, sculptural installations and text-based works, Observance directly challenges skewed historical narratives that have endured, asking audiences to acknowledge their own role in these unresolved histories.

Featuring Buxton Collection artist Julie Dowling (Badimaya) with Karla Dickens (Wiradjuri), Julie Gough (Trawlwoolway), Lisa Hilli (Gunantuna, Tolai people, Papua New Guinea), Betty Muffler (Pitjantjatjara), Angela Tiatia (Samoa).

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Observance is presented with Turbulent Water, an exhibition featuring Rebecca Belmore, member of the Lac Seul First Nation (Anishinaabe).