Page 61 - Annual Review 2010

ReVeAL 61
spirited: works from the gallery’s
indigenous australian art collection
29 may – 8 august 2010 | goma
opposite: an installation view of the elcho island
(galiwin’ku) artists’ banumbirr (morning star) poles,
secured with funds raised from the gallery’s 2010
foundation appeal.
artists of the girringun aboriginal art centre | cardwell area,
qLd |Bagu and Jiman (Firestick figures and firesticks) (installation
view) 2009 | purchased 2010 with funds from xstrata community
partnership program queensland through the queensland art
gallery foundation | collection: queensland art gallery
intangible presences are central to
indigenous societies, connecting the
divine realm with the mundane world.
the indigenous universe is alive with
spirits and works in this exhibition
explored this reality. a highlight
was the unique group of banumbirr
(morning star) poles created by artists
from elcho island (galiwin’ku) off the
coast of the northern territory.
this group is considered the most
important collection of its type in
the world, and was secured for the
gallery collection through the
2010 queensland art gallery
foundation appeal.
wooden bagu (firestick figures) and
jiman (firesticks) were carried from
site to site as people moved camp
seasonally. contemporary expressions
of these — created by the girringun
artists and acquired through the
xstrata community partnership
program queensland 2007–09 —
also featured in this stunning
collection display.