Awakening Histories

ABOUT THE EVENT

Awakening Histories explores the deep and enduring connection between First Nations Peoples across the north of this continent (now known as Australia) and the Makassan seafarers of South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Re-positioning Australia’s pre-colonial international relations from a global south perspective, this powerful exhibition reflects on the legacies of these early intercultural connections that were forged through reciprocity, respect and trade. 

Awakening Histories unsettles the temporal, geographic and cultural borders that have shaped the national imaginary of Australia, offering a counter-narrative to Eurocentric histories of discovery. Acknowledging deep and continuous connections with Country—inclusive of land, water, sky and lore—the exhibition honours First Nations people’s longstanding histories of encounter and interaction with people, technologies, plants and ideas from across the seas.  

Awakening Histories is an exhibition of our times. Developed by a curatorium of researchers and curators based in Australia and Indonesia, it brings together new artists’ commissions and key works from major collections, foregrounding the storytelling of art and artists and following trade routes and cultural exchange to recast history. The Awakening Histories curatorium includes Dr Rebecca Coates, Amanda Haskard, Dr David Haworth, Hannah Mathews, Dr Melanie Oliver, Francis E. Parker, Abi Nurabdiansyah, Professor Lynette Russell and Pierra Van Sparkes.