Djon Mundine OAM FAHA, the exhibition’s curator, will delve into the Western Desert art centers and the artworks on display.
The exhibition, “Three Echoes – Western Desert Art,” curated by the acclaimed Djon Mundine OAM FAHA, showcases works by 57 renowned artists from the Ikuntji (Haasts Bluff), Papunya, and Utopia Aboriginal communities in Australia’s Western Desert region.
Drawn from the private collection of Andrew Arnott and Karin Schack, the artworks in this exhibition represent significant artistic developments and moments that fueled the Western Desert Art movement’s meteoric rise.
These paintings hold deep significance for First Nations peoples, conveying important stories of their Dreaming (tjukurrpa) and Country. The relationships between families and ancestors, with the flora and fauna, and with the unique land formations are the cornerstones of this art form.
Three Echoes – Western Desert Art explores the metaphorical and metaphysical concept of echoes – how thoughts, sentiments, and consciousness can resonate across time and space. In the 1970s, Australian Aboriginal people from the desert began sharing their creation stories of the land and people through art, a powerful echo that continues to reverberate. Today, in the 2020s, this foundational echo has become a multi-directional conversation within Australian and global communities.
Three Echoes – Western Desert Art is an initiative developed by Museums & Galleries Queensland in collaboration with Karin Schack and Andrew Arnott, and curated by Djon Mundine OAM FAHA. The project has received support from the Australian Government’s Visions of Australia program and the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body. Additionally, the Queensland Government, through Arts Queensland, part of the Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy, has provided support. Museums & Galleries Queensland also acknowledges the support of the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation and funding from Creative Partnerships Australia through the Australian Cultural Fund.
