Artist as Archaeologist

The concept of the artist as archaeologist resonates deeply with me, as it speaks to how artists can intertwine history and the present to honor and reflect upon the past. Inspired by Banduk Marika, an Elder of the Rirratjingu clan of the Yolngu people, I sought to respectfully engage with Aboriginal art practices to deepen my understanding of Australia’s Indigenous heritage.

Marika’s art process, rooted in cultural tradition, involves gathering materials from her ancestral land, preparing bark over several weeks, and creating paint from natural ochre, water, and tree sap. Her careful approach and respect for ancestral practices inspired me, but as a white Australian, I researched thoroughly to ensure I was approaching this work with sensitivity. As Marika emphasizes, artists must not share or depict stories that aren’t theirs or weren’t passed down from their ancestors.

In place of traditional materials, I sourced elements from my own surroundings, using stones as my canvas. With no access to ochre, I ground soft pastels into powder, mixed with saliva and golden syrup to mimic traditional binding agents. Painting with natural tools like sticks, leaves, and fingers, I aimed to honor Marika’s process while creating my own story