Jarnda Councillor-Barns, Stories of our waterways, 2024, giclee fine art print on Hahnemühle photo rag paper, 33 x 48 cm. Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Cambridge, P.604.ACH1.

Curated by Samara King

Re.Collection, curated by Samara King, celebrates the endurance of Aboriginal art and culture, exploring how archival photographs can be reclaimed and utilised as a connection and memory of First Nations history and experiences. 

With a selection of nineteenth and early twentieth century archival photographs displayed in the West Gallery, Samara demonstrates the value of archival photographs in sharing the historic experiences of Aboriginal people in Western Australia and how, by incorporating First Nations voice and practices, historic images can be employed as a source of cultural material, artistic expression, or ancestral memory.  

From objects to portraits, landscapes and action shots, these images share an insight into our history. Yet many of these photos contain unknown people and places. Through Re.Collection, we hope by highlighting these images we can discover new connections or knowledge. We welcome community advice and have placed information forms within the gallery space. Any new details or knowledge can be incorporated back into the ‘Returning Photos’ archive and to corresponding museums. 

The East Gallery features a diverse reimaging of archival photography by First Nation artists Dianne Jones, Jarnda Councillor-Barns and Katie West. Utilising a selection of archival photographs - from family photographs to colonial portraits; this display showcases the richness of First Nations notions of place, art, ideas and history. Connection to place and culture are enduring concepts across Dianne Jones' deconstruction of the archival colonial portrait, Jarnda Councillor-Barns’ celebratory digital paintings, and Katie West’s complex textural imagery. 

Samara king

DIANNE JONES

JARNDA COUNCILLOR-BARNS

KATIE WEST

EXHIBITION CATALOGUE

LIST OF WORKS

ONLINE GALLERY WITH THE DEEPEST RESPECT FOR FIRST NATIONS COMMUNITIES AND CULTURES, ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER PEOPLE ARE ADVISED THAT THIS EXHIBITION CONTAINS IMAGES AND NAMES OF DECEASED PERSONS.

RETURNING PHOTOS PROJECT

Please note, as part of ‘Returning Photos’ each image was screened by a senior Elder before being published online. However, if during the course of this exhibition any images are found to depict inappropriate knowledge or information they will be removed immediately, and the archive updated.