Talking Blak to History | National Museum of Australia

See extraordinary works and hear the voices of Australia’s first peoples in Talking Blak to History. This exhibition in First Australians, on the lower ground floor, features powerful objects that speak to the aftermath of colonisation and explore issues including land rights, sovereignty, the Stolen Generations and deaths in custody.

Talking Blak exhibition 4:55

Join curator Margo Neale for a highlights tour of the Talking Blak exhibition.

Exhibition highlights

Renault Twingo decorated with Balarinji Wunala Dreaming design by John Moriarty and Frank Lee

From left to right of the image, front and back of a surfboard and an etching resembling a shield. - click to view larger image — *Cantchant* by Vernon Ah Kee

A painting on Belgian linen featuring a central anthropomorphic image surrounded by varying sizes of concentric circles. The background is constructed by means of concentric bands of dotted lines filling the spaces between the circles. There is a straight band across one narrow end, with a wavy line across the opposite end. - click to view larger image — *Yumari* by Uta Uta Tjangala

A black brassiere (bra) with straps, featuring a decorative design comprised of various materials. Some materials include pieces of yellow fabric with embroidered text, Australian Indigenous dot designs, and red buttons stitched to both left and right side cups of the bra. The text on the left side cup reads 'Frances Juanita Tyson / 7-5-54 - 13-1-01' and the text on the right side cup read 'Courage'. The left side cup has a plastic pink ribbon pin with a yellow flower attached to it. The right cup under frame has a red fringe stitched along it. Featured at the front centre of the bra is a black and yellow button attached to a layer of red and yellow fabric. Bits of orange chiffon with orange polka dots are also stitched to the top outer edge of the bra at both ends. - click to view larger image — Midget Bra by Grace Bond

Talking Blak reveals feelings about attachment to Country and the loss and grief brought about by colonisation. It tells stories of survival and resilience, and of overcoming grief through endurance, reconciliation and truth-telling.

The exhibition includes works by artists including Gordon Syron, Queenie McKenzie, Michael Cook, Dick Roughsey, Bill Onus, Fiona Foley, Julie Gough, Vernon Ah Kee, Gordon Hookey, Yondee (Shane Hansen), Adam Hill and Kevin Gilbert.

Long Journey Home: Repatriation symposium 07 May 2018

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander experiences

Neil Carter, Lui Ned David and Major Sumner share their histories and experiences, identifying regional differences and similarities in repatriation activities. They state the importance of helping and learning from each other in their work.

Neil Carter, Lui Ned David, Major Sumner

first nations

00:00 / 76:05

Daily, free First Australians

A Change Is Gonna Come

Walk for reconciliation

What’s on

Collaborating for Indigenous Rights 1957–1973

Cropped image of Wunala Dreaming design by John Moriarty, from a Twingo car, featuring teal, orange and purple dots.

Main banner image (detail): Renault Twingo decorated with Balarinji Wunala Dreaming design, made 1993, painted 1994, John Moriarty and Frank Lee. National Museum of Australia

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