Visitors to the exhibition will experience a digital songline with vibrant projections bringing ancient narratives to life.
Published Jul 18, 2024 | 11:00 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 23, 2024 | 3:44 PM
Australian Indigenous art exhibition is coming to Bengaluru. (National Museum of Australia and Mosster Studio)
The Australian Consulate-General has announced the arrival of the First Nations immersive multimedia installation, ‘Walking Through A Songline’ in Bengaluru.
This exceptional digital experience, which allows visitors to learn about Aboriginal Australia, will be showcased at the Science Gallery Bengaluru for one month from 18 July to 18 August.
‘Walking Through A Songline’ offers an evocative journey into the rich cultural heritage of Australia’s Indigenous people.
Known as dreaming tracks, these songlines map the routes and activities of ancestral people across Australia, encapsulating sacred stories passed down through generations.
Visitors to the exhibition will experience a digital songline with vibrant projections bringing these ancient narratives to life.
‘Songlines‘, are pathways of knowledge that map the routes of Ancestral beings as they traveled across Australia. (National Museum of Australia and Mosster Studio)
Produced by the National Museum of Australia in collaboration with the Mosster Studio, the exhibition has the endorsement of traditional Aboriginal custodians and knowledge holders.
Hilary McGeachy, Consul General of the Australian Consulate-General Bengaluru, expressed her excitement: “We are very pleased to partner with the Science Gallery for this important exhibition, which marks the one-year anniversary of the Australian Consulate-General in Bengaluru. ‘Walking Through A Songline’ is a natural fit for the Science Gallery, as an exhibition which demonstrates the power and potential of new technologies to preserve art and cultural legacies. This is an opportunity for those in Bengaluru to experience a dynamic showcase of the oldest continuous culture on earth.”
The exhibition showcases modern diversity and the rich heritage of First Nations People. (National Museum of Australia and Mosster Studio)
Margo Ngawa Neale, Emeritus Curatorial Fellow for First Nations at the National Museum of Australia, added, “Although this story has ancient origins, it has critical contemporary relevance and by using dynamic, contemporary technology, we can bring this First Nations songline to Indian audiences.”
The exhibition not only highlights the power of storytelling but also emphasises the shared cultural heritage between Australia and India.
Both nations are home to some of the oldest continuous cultures in the world, with Australia’s Aboriginal culture extending over 60,000 years.
The ‘Walking Through A Songline’ exhibition represents a bridge, connecting ancient traditions with contemporary audiences through cutting-edge technology.
Visitors will enter a marquee to experience the exhibit, following the journey of the seven sisters through an immersive experience of light and sound.
A weekly film screening will be held at the Science Gallery every Saturday from 6pm. (National Museum of Australia and Mosster Studio)
Accompanying the main exhibition are a reading corner, a display of Australian Indigenous textiles, and a weekly film screening.
The reading corner offers books on the history, culture, and traditions of Australia’s First Nations Peoples, suitable for both children and adults.
The film screenings, held every Saturday at 6 pm, will feature short films documenting the historical and cultural narratives of Indigenous groups from remote parts of Australia.
A special highlight is the display of textiles designed by artists from the Bábbarra Women’s Centre in Australia’s Northern Territory.
These textiles, created in collaboration with Indian artisans at Bengaluru’s Tharangini Studio, showcase a unique fusion of Indigenous Australian and Indian artistry.
‘Walking Through A Songline’ has previously toured Indonesia, Vietnam, and Laos, and a larger version is currently touring Europe.
In India, the exhibition has already visited Mumbai and New Delhi, receiving enthusiastic responses. In New Delhi alone, the exhibition attracted 62,000 visitors over six weeks. Paul Murphy, Australia’s Consul General in Mumbai took to X to write about it.
Visitors having a serene experience at our 🇦🇺 #FirstNations art exhibit in #Mumbai.
Digital immersive installation #Walkingthroughasongline will go on until May 10 at @musomumbai.
Drop by to traverse the deserts of 🇦🇺 accompanied by stories from 🇦🇺’s #FirstNations ancestors. pic.twitter.com/D558qVe684
— Australian Consulate General, Mumbai (@AusCG_Mumbai) April 26, 2024
This exhibition is a testament to the enduring legacy of Australia’s First Nations peoples, illustrating how ancient knowledge can be preserved and shared through modern technology.
It invites audiences in Bengaluru to engage with the world’s oldest continuous culture in an innovative and immersive way.
The exhibition is open to the public with free admission.
(Edited by Neena)
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