At the dawn of creation, as the world was young and unformed, the ancestors of the Aboriginal People raised themselves from the EARTH, wandered the world and created the land.
Ever since this dream time, native Aboriginal People continue to traverse the Australian continent. The rules which governed the ancestors of the world in the dream time still apply today. For generations they have been memorised and passed on verbally. A culture has been established whose foundations have been based for more than 40,000 years on living in harmony with nature and, in so doing, ensuring its continuance.
Songlines, which since primeval times have been used by the Aboriginal People as signposts on their journeys across the enormous land, play an important role. They hold all the required information for a destination to be reached. The whole of Australia is covered with an invisible web of these paths.
For this project I will cross the continent from Port Augusta in the South to Darwin in the North.
On route and with the approval and help of the Aboriginal People, I aim to collect SOIL from sites of special meaning and with stories which the families and clans living there feel represent them.
The respective terragraphics would visualize their culture with consideration and respect.
The work produced would have an exceptional position in the picture of the EARTH and enrich the various cultural circles represented.
Thanks
With the help of many interested and open-minded people, I was able to realise this impressive project.
I am deeply grateful to all of them.
On behalf of everyone involved, I would like to express my gratitude to:
Tamara Watson from Adelaide, who provided me with indispensable information and contact addresses; Terrence Coulthard, who entrusted me with the sacred ochre of the ADNYAMATHANHA from Iga Warta in a moving ceremony,
Sandra Taylor from Coober Pedy, who gave me access to the land of the ANTAKIRINJA MUTUNTJARA, Marie Elena Ellis, who dug up the EARTH of the AMWENGKWERNE in Amoonguna herself,
Junior Juppurrula Frank, who welcomed me like a brother in Nyinkka Nyunyu and with whom I then travelled through the land around Tennant Creek, where I was able to obtain the EARTH of the WARUMUNGU, Balany Bolgi, Roland Ashley and John (Longjohnny) Dewar, who allowed me to obtain EARTH in Manyallaluk,
and Georgie Walton Cunhill, with whom I dug up the EARTH of the MURRUMBUR in Kakadu National Park.
I would also like to thank Birgit Scheps from Leipzig, who introduced me to Aboriginal culture and provided me with specific contacts in Australia, as well as Christiane Fenell from Eddelak, who always stood by my side with help and advice.
The following people also contributed to the success of this project:
Vivien Anderson, Melbourne
Georgina Bracken, Tennant Creek
Angelika Brunner, München
Ulrike Folie, München
Leslie Yunbumba Forster, Karlu Karlu
Bill Harney, Katherine
Raewyn Kavanagh, Alice Springs
Florian Mair, Adelaide
Tim Newth, Darwin
Barbara Ambjerg Pedersen, Katherine
Steve Sarev, Darwin
Jill Seer, München & Melbourne
Phil Shannon, Iga Warta
John Syme, Alice Springs