‘SONGLINES: Tracking the Seven Sisters’
An Exhibition from the Australian Embassy
September 08th, 2022
Emerging as a collaboration between the Humboldt Forum and the Australian Embassy, the SONGLINES: Tracking the Seven Sisters exhibition presents the fascinating stories told by the indigenous communities of the Central and Western Deserts of Australia.
Emerging as a collaboration between the Humboldt Forum and the Australian Embassy, the SONGLINES: Tracking the Seven Sisters exhibition presents the fascinating stories told by the indigenous communities of the Central and Western Deserts of Australia. Following a ten-year research and preservation effort, the exhibition makes the oratory traditions of these communities tangible, while maintaining the vibrancy, colour, and fantastical elements of such rich stories.
As the exhibition unfolds, the myth of the Seven Sisters is revealed, comparable in magnitude to The Iliad and The Odyssey, but taking the backdrop of the Australian Bush, rather than Ancient Greece. Through the paintings and accompanying audio guide, the story follows seven sisters who, to avoid the unwanted pursuits of the relentless Yurla, travel across the country and utilise various illusions and acts of trickery. The sisters’ final attempt to quell Yurla’s advances results in them becoming the constellation of the Seven Sisters that one can see in the sky today, as part of the Taurus constellation.
Their journey is tracked through the wonderfully colourful paintings, also marking the sacred places that the sisters created. To further immerse oneself in the fascinating story, the exhibition features an LED dome, in which visitors can lay down and watch the tale unfold, with the paintings being brought to life with animation accompanying the artwork. Alongside the vivid paintings, the exhibition also features ceramics, woven baskets, figures, making the experience all the more multi-dimensional.
In addition to the captivating myth of the sisters, the exhibition as a whole felt deeply personal and interactive, featuring even the paint pots, brushes and artists’ drawers used in the production of the art. This is further embodied through depicting the artists themselves in timelapses, demonstrating how the art is created, thus making the exhibition truly like no other.
Through the exhibition’s eclectic display of the power of sisterhood and community, the notion of cultural diplomacy is promoted in a whole new light. The uplifting of indigenous voices and stories through colour and fantasy in such a stimulating way can’t help but engage new audiences throughout cultures.
Emerging as a collaboration between the Humboldt Forum and the Australian Embassy, the SONGLINES: Tracking the Seven Sisters exhibition presents the fascinating stories told by the indigenous communities of the Central and Western Deserts of Australia. Following a ten-year research and preservation effort, the exhibition makes the oratory traditions of these communities tangible, while maintaining the vibrancy, colour, and fantastical elements of such rich stories.
As the exhibition unfolds, the myth of the Seven Sisters is revealed, comparable in magnitude to The Iliad and The Odyssey, but taking the backdrop of the Australian Bush, rather than Ancient Greece. Through the paintings and accompanying audio guide, the story follows seven sisters who, to avoid the unwanted pursuits of the relentless Yurla, travel across the country and utilise various illusions and acts of trickery. The sisters’ final attempt to quell Yurla’s advances results in them becoming the constellation of the Seven Sisters that one can see in the sky today, as part of the Taurus constellation.
Their journey is tracked through the wonderfully colourful paintings, also marking the sacred places that the sisters created. To further immerse oneself in the fascinating story, the exhibition features an LED dome, in which visitors can lay down and watch the tale unfold, with the paintings being brought to life with animation accompanying the artwork. Alongside the vivid paintings, the exhibition also features ceramics, woven baskets, figures, making the experience all the more multi-dimensional.
In addition to the captivating myth of the sisters, the exhibition as a whole felt deeply personal and interactive, featuring even the paint pots, brushes and artists’ drawers used in the production of the art. This is further embodied through depicting the artists themselves in timelapses, demonstrating how the art is created, thus making the exhibition truly like no other.
Through the exhibition’s eclectic display of the power of sisterhood and community, the notion of cultural diplomacy is promoted in a whole new light. The uplifting of indigenous voices and stories through colour and fantasy in such a stimulating way can’t help but engage new audiences throughout cultures.
