RAUTENSTRAUCH-JOEST-MUSEUM Koln | Patrick Waterhouse

"When the white explorers made their maps, they divided this land with arbitrary lines and established state boundaries. They knew nothing of the diversity of nations and tribal peoples that inhabit this land. They didn't know that we have our own stories, songlines, borders and nations. Ancient tribal stories cover the entire continent, traces of totems belonging to various clans and language groups of the land they called Australia." - Otto Jungarrayi Sims – (Former Chairman of Warlukurlangu Artists)

Can art change our understanding of the past? Can we revise the documents that have shaped history? How can Australian First Peoples regain the sovereignty of interpretation through artistic means?

Over the past eight years, groups of Warlpiri artists in Central Australia have been reworking a collection of maps, flags, photographs, comic illustrations and other archival material in collaboration with British artist Patrick Waterhouse. This has resulted in artistic positions that offer new access to previously mostly hidden or unknown perspectives.

The largest exhibition of this work to date, “REVISIONS made by Warlpiri of Central Australia and Patrick Waterhouse' opens on December 8, 2023 in the Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum (RJM) in Cologne. The exhibition was curated at the Warlukurlangu Art Centers in Yuendumu and Nyirripi. It includes well-known works such as “Restricted Images” as well as new ones that deal directly with the RJM archive, and shows the new two-channel video artwork “The True Story” for the first time.

Despite colonization, Warlpiri (language) groups have maintained an enduring philosophical worldview characterized by complex ceremonial traditions and artistic practices. In 2014 Patrick Waterhouse traveled to the Warlpiri area for the first time. He had been photographing in Central Australia since 2011 and gradually acquired documents that trace Australia's colonial history. Waterhouse presented these photographs, along with archival material from museums and auction houses, to members of the Warlukurlangu Art Centers in the Yuendumu and Nyirippi communities. He invited them to rework the documents using the traditional Warlpiri dot painting technique, practiced by almost half of the community.

The artists, aged 16 to 90, applied layers of patterns and symbols to the documents based on their own stories and traditions. This process can be seen as an unknowability, a correction of what already exists, or a revelation of something that has always been hidden beneath the surface. The resulting works confront Australia's colonial narrative with its indigenous history, which began more than 50,000 years ago.

Artists

The works in the exhibition were reworked at the Warlukurlangu Art Centers in Yuendumu and Nyirripi communities in Australia's Northern Territory, in collaboration with: Adrianna Nangala Egan, Agnes Nampijinpa Brown, Alma Nungarrayi Granites, Angelina Nampijinpa Tasman, Athena Nangala Granites, Cecily Napanangka Marshall, Chantelle Nampijinpa Robertson, Charmain Napangardi Granites, Delena Napaljarri Turner, Dorothy Napurrurla Dickson, Felicity Nampijinpa Robertson, Flora Nakamarra Brown, Geraldine Napangardi Granites, Hazel Nungarrayi Morris, Hilda Nakamarra Rogers, Jacob Jungarrayi Spencer, Jeanie Napangardi Lewis, Jessica Napanangka Lewis, Joy Nangala Brown, Judith Nungarrayi Martin, Julie Nangala Robertson, Juliette Nakamara Morris, Kirsten Nangala Egan, Kirsty Anne Napanangka Brown, Leah Nampijinpa Sampson, Lola Nampijinpa Brown, Lorraine Nungarrayi Granites, Madeleine Napangardi Dixon, Margaret Nangala Gallagher, Margaret Napangardi Lewis, Margie Napurrurla Leo , Marilyn Maria Nangala Turner, Marissa Napanangka Anderson, Mary Napangardi Brown, Melinda Napurrurla Wilson, Nathania Nangala Granites. Ormay Nangala Gallagher, Otto Jungarrayi Sims, Pauline Nampijinpa Singleton, Sabrina Napangardi Granites, Polly Anne Napangardi Dixon, Ruth Nungarrayi Spencer, Sabrina Nangala Robertson, Sarah Napaljarri Sims, Sarah Napurrurla Leo, Selma Napanangka Tasman, Shanna Napanangka Williams, Steven Jangala Hargraves, Tanya Nungarrayi Collins, Valda Napangardi Granites, Valerie Napanangka Marshall, Walter Jangala Brown, Watson Jangala Robertson, Wendy Nungarrayi Brown, Wilma Napangardi Poulson.

Curators
Warlpiri of Central Australia
Patrick Waterhouse