65,000 Years: A Short History of Australian Art is a landmark exhibition that highlights the prominence of First Nations art in Australia, underscoring the vital role of Indigenous knowledge and artistic practice. Accompanying the exhibition is a significant publication, richly illustrated with over 200 artworks and featuring 23 texts. This publication is the result of a collaborative two-year dialogue between myself, fellow designer Tristian Main, and curators Judith Ryan and Professor Marcia Langton AO. The design of the publication was inherently discursive, designed in a way that engages in dialogue with the 65,000-year history it represents while addressing the complex realities of contemporary publishing. Our goal was to create a publication that not only acknowledges but also venerates this extensive history of continuous living culture and artistic practice. The publication, co-published with Thames and Hudson, aims to resonate with both broad and diverse audiences, balancing academic rigour with accessibility and appeal to general readers. Visually, the book is a feast, bridging contemporary design elements with a more traditional typographic approach. A key focus of our design process was to determine how non-First Nations designers could effectively contribute to a First Nations-led project, ensuring that our approach was one of listening and appropriate response. The typographic choices blend a calligraphic style with precise features, embodying a design that is both timeless and incisive, appealing equally to scholars and casual readers alike.
NTRO Output Category
- Original Creative Work : Design / architectural Work
Place
Melbourne, AustraliaVenue
Potter Museum of ArtNTRO Publisher
Thames and hudson, University of Melbourne, Potter Museum of ArtStart Date
2024-05-24End Date
2024-05-24Medium
Publication DesignResearch Statement
This is a landmark exhibition that foregrounds First Nations Australian art, emphasising Indigenous knowledge and practices. It features a publication illustrated with over 200 artworks and 23 texts, resulting from a collaborative effort involving significant dialogues between curators and designers
This publication contributes to the discourse on Indigenous art by providing a platform that bridges traditional and contemporary perspectives. The design process, led by myself and Tristan Main in collaboration with curators Judith Ryan and Marcia Langton, was discursive, aimed at engaging with and reflecting upon the extensive history of Indigenous culture. The design aims to honour and critically examine this history, offering a nuanced representation of Indigenous artistic continuity.
The significance of this research lies in its multidimensional approach to presenting First Nations art, where the publication serves not only as an academic resource but also as a cultural artefact. By co-publishing with Thames and Hudson, the project reaches a diverse audience, ensuring the dissemination of Indigenous narratives to both scholarly circles and the general public. The typeface's blend of calligraphic and precise incisive features creates a timeless aesthetic that appeals universally. This project exemplifies how non-First Nations designers can respectfully participate in Indigenous-led initiatives, fostering a model of collaborative cultural engagement that prioritises listening and appropriate responsiveness, thereby advancing the understanding and appreciation of 65,000 years of Indigenous art and culture.Size or Duration of Work
230 x 300 mm, 352 pages.Affiliation
Ela Egidy, University of Melbourne
