Final Summary

I feel as though throughout this course I've learnt a lot about how vast and expanding the Australian Aboriginal culture still is today. Before I started this, seeing as I'd live overseas for most of my life, I had little idea as to how strongly the culture was still active today and how it's still growing. 

My naive thoughts of dot paintings being the extent to which Indigenous art has gotten is thankfully lost and forgotten, replaced with Indigenous photography, art, music and film. It really has been an important few lessons I've learnt throughout this semester. 

Indigenous Culture in Sports

I've always been well aware of the Haka performed by the New Zealand Rugby team before their games to intimidate their opponents. Whilst looking through some of those videos I came across a few for the Australian Indigenous NRL team and found them to be so interesting. The way the man spoke of the elders was so different from the speeches normally given on sports ground and spoke yards for the culture both here and in New Zealand and how they've managed to keep hold of their roots and traditions. 

Prior to Melbourne Storm's Anzac Day clash against the New Zealand Warriors at AAMI Park, Wurundjeri Elder Uncle Bill performed a Welcome to Country, followed by a traditional smoking ceremony with members of his tribe. Following this the Jindi Worabak Dancers performed a traditional Maori dance followed by an exchange of gifts between the indigenous elders and acknowledgement by the Maori people.

The rivalry between the dances is great as well. It shows that one can compete with one another, yet accept the way they do things where they're from. That many cultures still hold strong traditions that may be different to our own but are no less valuable or necessary. I found it interesting how you can see relations between the two not only in clothing but in the style of the dances and instruments as well. It's unnecessary to understand exactly what they're saying or doing as it's the emotion and the principle that is still successfully being conveyed. Which is great!

Professor Wayne Quilliam - Photographer

Adjunct Professor Wayne Quilliam is one of Australia's leading Indigenous photographic artists.  His work in Indigenous Affairs in Australia and Overseas has been recognised by dozens International organisations with numerous awards including the NAIDOC Indigenous Artist of the Year, Human Rights Award, Walkely Award, Business of the Year and many art accolades.

Wayne travels Australia and overseas working as a Corporate, Travel, Fashion,Architecture, Landscape, Social Documentary and Indigenous Affairs Photographer.

He has been published in more than 900 publications and recognised as one of Australia’s leading Art Photographers with exhibitions in Europe, USA, Asia, South America and Australia. 

I came across this photographer whilst doing a photography course and I instantly fell in love with his black and white photography. The contrast of tones and emotions shown throughout his photos was something that truly caught my attention. Without reading heaps of information you can gather what the story is and the emotions associated with the people portrayed. Whether he was depicting a ceremony or everyday life, Quilliam's photos allowed to an inside glance into some of the Indigenous cultural moments, which to me, is stronger than almost anything you can read. You decide for yourself what you think you see and how it makes you feel.

Black & White

Aboriginal photographer Wayne Quilliam has created, designed, developed, advised and contributed to more than 300 local, national and international campaigns. Wayne is recognised as one of Australia's leading Indigenous photographers with experience in rural, remote and urban communities and has the expertise and knowledge to assist in developing culturally appropriate visuals. Photographing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities is a specialised skill which Wayne has more that 25 years experience.

When I went back to the website in order to put it on my blog, I came across his Australian Aboriginal Photography Art, which was quite different from anything I'd ever seen before. Combining intricate patterns of the earth with human forms, Quilliam was able to give a sense of both the Australian landscape and the Indigenous culture. Once again his photographs seemed to tell me more about these things than any of the things I'd read.

Australian Aboriginal Photographic Art

Lowanna is a creative series of work that combines the intricate patterns of the earth with the human form. This evolutionary work has been exhibited throughout the world including The Museum of Young Art in Austria, Art Centre Berlin Germany, Australian Embassies in Mexico, Germany, Havana, Cuba, Tokyo, Japan, Foreign Affairs in Australian and numerous international galleries and Australia. Critics have tagged this work as the new wave of Aboriginal art and photography.