Emu Sky

Curated by Barkandji woman Zena Cumpston, Emu Sky explored and illuminated Indigenous perspectives related to science, innovation, plant use, land management and agricultural practice. Through detailed research, art and storytelling this exhibition was a sustained interrogation of the western lens through which Indigenous scientific endeavour has been historically perceived. Emu Sky showcased past, present and future conversations centred around Indigenous knowledge and practices, inviting the audience to recognise and question historical erasures and the contemporaneous circumstance they build and enable.

Emu Sky features artworks and installations by Aunty Joy Murphy, Dr Jonathan Jones, Aunty Kim Wandin, Uncle Badger Bates, Aunty Dr Vicki Couzens, Genevieve Grieves, A/Prof Michael Shawn Fletcher, Katie West, The Djirri Djirris, Simon Briggs, David Doyle, Aunty Julie Freeman, Lachlan McDaniel, Uncle Roy Barker Snr, Nici Cumpston, Aunty Yvonne Koolmatrie and Maddison Miller.

Emu Sky continues to be presented online as part of our commitment to ensure that the conversations, resources, communities and knowledge produced by this project remain accessible to a wide audience long after the Emu Sky exhibition closed.

Read Emu Sky beginnings with Zena Cumpston

The works

Wurun djeri wominjeka

Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin AO

Emu Sky

Uncle Badger Bates

Karnka (digging sticks)

Uncle Badger Bates

wana-string-fence-lines

Katie West

Yilabara Ngara

Maddison Miller

baban darrang (mother tree)

Genevieve Grieves and Mandy Nicholson with Djirri Djirri Dance Group

untitled walam-wunga.galang (grindstones)

Jonathan Jones with Dr Uncle Stan Grant Snr AM

Language Posters

Brooke Wandin, with Madeline Critchley, Jax Plumley and Zena Cumpston

Sediment cores

Michael-Shawn Fletcher

Marrum (overflow)

Various artists

Explore more

Blak Yarn

Further learning

Thanks to

Emu Sky was made possible through a huge group effort
Curator: Zena Cumpston
Exhibition Design: Jaxsun Plumley
Curatorium: Jaxsun Plumley, Brad Rusbridge, Madeline Critchley, Maddison Miller, Genevieve Grieves, Ryan Jefferies
Production managers: Brad Rusbridge, Elise Brokensha and Pippa Wright
2D design: Madeline Critchley

Project team: James Needham, Scott Morrison, Jack Farley, Hannah Presley, Emma Morton, Ryan Johnson, Susie Anderson, Eleanor Simcoe, Brigette Van Leuven, Michelle Segal, Christine Elias, Megan Cassar, Elena del Mercato, Harry Reid, Eleanore Testa, Alia Chalmers, Matt Coffey, Steph Walker, Jessie Ferrari, Jacob Taylor, Rohan Meddings, Claire Farrugia, Matthew Dau, Vhairi Mackintosh, Annika Aitken, Phillipa Brumby, Lee Casey, Ryan Jefferies, Simon Maidment, Kyla McFarlane, Shirley Liu, Sandpit

Installers: Simone Tops, Carly Fischer, Wolfgang Schmidtke
Lighting Design: Adam Meredith MEGS Lighting
Fabrication: Simone Tops, Boom Studios, Savio Projects, Dale Holden,
Conservation: Grimwade Conservation Services; Marica Mucic, Evan Tindal, Holly Jones-Amin

Text editor: Jessyca Hutchens
Exhibition signage and Wayfinding: Decently Exposed
Printing: Creffield Digital and Bambra Press
Front of House: Ada Coxall, Aliya Chalmers, Claire Kopietz, Imogen Colton, Isaac Kairouz, Jessie Ferrari, Joseph Doggett-Williams, Karen Eriksen, Kathleen Kiernan, Matt Coffey, Mia Carey
Installation photography: Christian Capurro

Acknowledgements: Heartfelt thanks to the many who supported, encouraged, shared knowledge and assisted in a multitude of ways; Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin, Aunty Kim Wandin, Uncle Dave Wandin, Nici Cumpston, Uncle Badger Bates, Aunty Sarah Martin, Dr Aunty Vicki Couzens, Lyndon Ormond Parker, Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation, Dr Terri Janke, Lisa Pellegrino, Damien Rowett, Kirsten Parris and the CAUL Hub, Angela Bruckner, Briena Barrett, Jo Birch and University of Melbourne Herbarium, Tim Uebergang and the grounds team, Amable Lou, Katherine Horsfall, John Delpratt, the University of Melbourne Museums and Collections Dept, Amy Hahs, Science Gallery Melbourne mob (most especially the education team and education program facilitators!), Stacie Piper, Mandy Nicholson, Michael-Shawn Fletcher, Lesley Head, Sally Heath, Brooke Wandin, Murrup Barak mob, Uncle Bruce Pascoe, Genevieve O’Callaghan, all of the incredible Front of House staff at Old Quad, The University of Melbourne Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Heritage Oversight Committee, Kate Howell, Rachel Carey, Sybil Borthwick, Angela Foley, The Orbweavers, Darren Parker and Blake Griffiths from Broken Hill Art Gallery, City of Melbourne.

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