Confronting our bloody past: The Missing, by artist Julie Gough, Bett Gallery, Hobart.Carol Altmann – The Terrier
I wasn’t planning a post tonight, but today I saw an exhibition by Tasmanian-based artist Julie Gough about the attempted annihilation of Aboriginal Tasmanians/Palawa – an attempt which, as we know, was carried across Bass Strait to the colonial invasion of south-west Victoria, our home.
The murders. The kidnaps. The thefts. The near annihilation. Julie’s work is sobering and absolutely heartbreaking.
And I came away with one repetitive thought: what can I do?
What can I do?
One thing I can do is to use what I know best – words – to tell indigenous stories from south-west Victoria and to help illuminate our real history, not the white-washed version I grew up with.
South-west Victoria is saturated with rich indigenous stories, both contemporary and past.
I recently applied for some funding to help me do this by bringing others into The Terrier to help tell these stories.
I am still waiting to hear how my application has gone – fingers crossed – but with or without this support, this is one path The Terrier will be taking as it heads into its second year.
On we go.