In-Conversation: Banners, Prints & Wave Hill Walk-off

Please join us for this in-conversation bringing together community, curators and artists, as they discuss the making of the banners and prints and reflect on the Wave Hill Walk-off.

In-Conversation Event

1pm - 2pm

Thursday 20 February

ANU School of Art & Design Gallery

Free. Registrations essential.
Please note: No food or drink permitted in the Gallery. 

Speakers;

• Professor Brenda L Croft, (Gurindji/Malngin/Mudburra Peoples, Australian First Nations; Anglo-Australian/Chinese/German/Irish/ Scottish heritage), Professor, Indigenous Art History and Curatorship, ANU School of Art & Design
• Penny Smith, Karungkarni Art & Culture Centre
  
• Kalkarindji Community Artists
  
• Dr Joanna Barrkman, Curator, Charles Darwin University Art Collection & Art Gallery, Creative Director, Gurindji Freedom Banner
• Alison Alder, Artist, Honorary Associate Professor, ANU School of Art & Design

ABOUT THE EXHIBITIONS

11 February - 28 March 2025

Gurindji Freedom Banners
Mumkurla-nginyi-ma parrngalinyparla - From the darkness into the light

The banners retell the story of the historic Wave Hill Walk-off in 1966. The 10 iconic banners on display tell the Gurindji account of the ‘walk-off’, which was led by Vincent Jurlama Lingiari AM with Gurindji, Ngarinyman, Mudburra, Bilinara and Walpiri workers from Wave Hill Station, located in the Victoria River District on the northern edge of the Tanami Desert. This strike was a response to the unfair working and living conditions for Aboriginal people under the station’s management; Vestey’s Group. Aboriginal workers, at Old Wave Hill Station, were paid less than a quarter of the minimum wage and sometimes only received rations.

This exhibition was developed by Charles Darwin University Art Gallery in partnership with Karungkarni Art and Culture, Kalkarindji, Northern Territory.


Wave Hill / Jinparrak / Canberra Exchange 

The Wave Hill/Jinparrak/Canberra Exchange recognises the significant connection between the Gurindji people of the Daguragu and Kalkarindji communities, whose groundbreaking strike in the 1960’s heralded the birth of the national land rights movement. Canberra played a significant role in this seminal moment in Australian history as the Gurindji people and their supporters dealt with governments and politicians from 1966 to 1975.

This exchange project saw six Indigenous artists travel to Canberra to spend an intensive two weeks making new work at Megalo Print Studio. The artists worked in collaboration with the printmakers from Megalo Print Studio, developing a suite of screen prints and lithographs. Their prints express country, history, the past and the future as well as the impact of decisions made at Parliament House.

This project was developed by Megalo Print Studio, Canberra in partnership with Karungkarni Art and Culture, Kalkarindji, Northern Territory.


These exhibitions are generously supported by the ANU Visual Arts Endowment and the Alastair Swayn Foundation. 


Image: Kalu Yani - Walk-off fenceline banner, 2000, applique textiles handpainted with acrylic paint, screenprinted with Permaset ink

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ANU School of Art & Design Gallery 
Tuesday to Friday, 10.30am - 3.00pm
Cnr Liversidge St & Ellery Cres, Acton ACT
e: soad.gallery@anu.edu.au