Simon Munro, Hunting Spear & Small Coolamon, 2023. Carved spotted gum tip, echidna barbs, grass tree resin and Kurrajong tree bark cord, Tasmanian oak spear shaft and carved white box eucalyptus. Courtesy: the artist and University Galleries, University of Newcastle, Newcastle.

Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nations boast a rich history of creative expressions that serve to preserve identities through storytelling, painting, song, dance, wood and rock carving. To keep storylines, both traditional and contemporary continuously alive, practicing culture remains true to this day.

Aboriginal ways of knowing and transmitting knowledge are encoded in creative cultural expressions. Simon Munro’s work surveys the intricate philosophy embedded in Aboriginal cultural practice and mark-making.

Philosophies of the Anaiwan draws from Munro’s heritage, the Anaiwan nation of the New England Tablelands. Munro invites viewers to consider the mark-making in all forms in this exhibition as the living voices of his ancestors and extends a warm welcome to consider these works as an invitation into his family’s timeline.

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