Artwork 14 - Land Rights
This artwork incorporates extracts from seminal legal cases on land rights. Terra Nullius (no one’s land) and Terra Aborigium (Aboriginal land) represent the position of native title in Australia before and after the High Court decision in Mabo v Queensland (No.2) (1992). Etched onto glass a map of Meriam Mer (Murray Island – located in the Torres Strait), overlays an image of three plaintiffs in that case: Edward Koiki Mabo, Reverend David Passi and James Rice, and one of their counsel, Bryan Keon-Cohen. Recessed within the artwork is a representation of varying Australian landscapes by Indigenous artist Karen Casey. A thumbprint etched into the stainless steel symbolises the custodial role of Indigenous Australians. On the other side of the artwork are the elements of Country – water, earth and life.
Land Rights at Reconciliation Place
Sliver
- Architect: Simon Kringas
- Aboriginal Cultural Advisor: Sharon Payne
- Exhibition Designers: Marcus Bree, Benita Tunks
- Graphic Designer: Alan Vogt
Images (by permission of)
- Aerial of rivers: Richard Woldendorp
- Landscape: Karen Casey
- Murray Islander plaintiffs: Trevor Graham
- Murray Island and map:Haddon Collection
- River: Richard Woldendorp
- River bed: Karen Casey
- Spirit figures: Karen Casey
- Thumbprint: Karen Casey
Audio
- Wet to Dry: Rick Rue