The Aboriginal Memorial

Media Kit

A wide-angle photograph showing an installation of 200 painted hollow logs standing upright in a large gallery space. The surrounding walls are painted in a dark colour and the logs are positioned on a navy plinth shaped to resemble both sides of a river bank.

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‘Art is a cultural expression; a history of a people; a statement through a series of life experiences of self-definition; a recounting of an untold story; the bringing to light of a truth of history — a statement possibly unable to be made in any other way.’

DJON MUNDINE, BANDJALUNG PEOPLE

The Aboriginal Memorial consists of 200 dupun (hollow log coffins) from central Arnhem Land and is one of the most significant works in the National Gallery’s collection, and in Australian art history. It was created in 1987–88, in the lead-up to the Australian Bicentenary, by 43 artists from Ramingining and the surrounding area. Each pole marks one year of occupation and together they stand as a memorial to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lives lost to colonial and ongoing conflict and trauma in Australia from 1788 to 1988.

The path through the installation represents the Glyde River in central Arnhem Land. The poles are located along the river according to their specific homeland.

The National Gallery is relocating The Aboriginal Memorial to the heart of the Gallery on Level 1. The relocation of The Aboriginal Memorial has been planned in close consultation with the Ramingining community and the Commissioning Curator of the work, Djon Mundine. The new presentation will return the work to its original rectangular format as per the artists’ intent.

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  • A wide-angle photograph showing an installation of 200 painted hollow logs standing upright in a large gallery space. The surrounding walls are painted in a dark colour and the logs are positioned on a navy plinth shaped to resemble both sides of a river bank.

    Ramingining artists, Djon Mundine, Bandjalung people, The Aboriginal Memorial, 1987–88, purchased with the assistance of funds from National Gallery admission charges and commissioned in 1987

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  • Three men standing among a Bruce, Djon and Nick hollow log coffins from central Arnhem Land

    (From left) Barbara Jean Humphreys Assistant Director, First Nations Engagement Bruce Johnson-McLean, Wierdi/Birri Gubba people, National Gallery Director Nick Mitzevich and Bandjalung artist and curator Djon Mundine OAM

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  • A man standing within an installation of 200 hollow log coffins from Central Arnhem Land

    Installation view Barbara Jean Humphreys Assistant Director, First Nations Engagement Bruce Johnson-McLean, Wierdi/Birri Gubba people with Ramingining artists, Djon Mundine, Bandjalung people, The Aboriginal Memorial, 1987–88, purchased with the assistance of funds from National Gallery admission charges and commissioned in 1987

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  • A close-up photograph showing a painted hollow-log. It is part of an installation of 200 painted hollow logs standing upright in a large gallery space. The surrounding walls are painted in a dark colour.

    Ramingining artists, Djon Mundine, Bandjalung people, The Aboriginal Memorial, 1987–88, (detail), purchased with the assistance of funds from National Gallery admission charges and commissioned in 1987

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  • A close-up photograph showing a painted hollow-log. It is part of an installation of 200 painted hollow logs standing upright in a large gallery space. The surrounding walls are painted in a dark colour.

    Ramingining artists, Djon Mundine, Bandjalung people, The Aboriginal Memorial, 1987–88, (detail), purchased with the assistance of funds from National Gallery admission charges and commissioned in 1987

    Download web version
    Download print version