Collective Movements: First Nations Collectives, Collaborations and Creative Practices from across Victoria

Description

Collective Movements is a wide-ranging project focusing on the work of historic and contemporary First Nations creative practitioners and community groups in south-eastern Australia that recognises collectivity as integral to Indigenous knowledges and ways of being. This project and publication begins from a desire to make a language and terminology beyond Western art concepts of 'collaboration' and 'collectivism' more visible, and to better describe and acknowledge the way Indigenous creatives work within a broader community and its inheritances. Collective Movements includes contributions from Australia's first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander chamber orchestra, Ensemble Dutala; leading Australian First Nations theatre company ILBIJERRI; Aboriginal art centre Kaiela Arts Shepparton; Melbourne-based collective this mob; Ballarat artist collective Pitcha Makin Fellas; Koorroyarr Arts, the creative platform founded by Gunditjmara sisters Kelsey and Tarryn Love; and The Torch, an arts support platform for Indigenous offenders and ex-offenders in Victoria. It also traces the stories of the widespread return of Possum Skin Cloak making in south-eastern Australia, the landmark 1996 festival We Iri, We Homeborn, and Latje Latje Dance Group Mildura, one of the earliest organised dance groups in Victoria. Collective Movements is co-curated by Taungurung curator, artist and writer Kate ten Buuren; Lardil and Yangkaal artist and curator Maya Hodge; and Boon Wurrung Elder and Traditional Owner, N'arweet Dr Carolyn Briggs AM. The publication is edited by Kate ten Buuren and Maya Hodge, and includes texts and interviews by Bryan Andy, Paola Balla, Belinda Briggs, Yaraan Bundle, Maddee Clark, Brian Martin, Tiriki Onus, Steven Rhall and the Collective Movements curatorium. It is designed by Larrakia, Wardaman and Karajarri artist-designer, Jenna Lee.

Kate ten Buuren is a Taungurung curator, artist and writer working on Kulin Country. Kate's cross-disciplinary practice investigates collective and collaborative ways of working, and her interest in contemporary visual art, film and oral traditions is grounded in self-determination, self-representation and the power of knowing one another. Kate is the founder and active member of First Nations arts collective this mob who make space for young artists to connect and create on their own terms. Kate currently works as a curator at ACMI and was previously curator at the Koorie Heritage Trust. Maya Hodge is a proud Lardil and Yangkaal woman raised in Mildura, Victoria, currently based on the lands of the Kulin Nation (Melbourne). Focusing on how artistic processes act as a way of healing, Maya's creative practice, music and writing explores the power of disrupting colonial narratives through curatorial and project-based work dedicated to uplifting First Nations autonomy and storytelling. Maya has previously worked as Assistant Curator at the Koorie Heritage Trust and Blak Dot Gallery. She has worked on various projects, residencies and programs with Short Black Opera, Footscray Community Arts Centre, Arts Centre Melbourne, West Space, KINGS Artist-Run, Signal, Culture Is Life, Arts House and YIRRAMBOI Festival. Maya completed a Bachelor of Fine Art in Art History and Curating at Monash University in 2021.