Lecture | The science of conserving Gija art: How Indigenous and Western knowledge systems come together

 The science of conserving Gija art: How Indigenous and Western knowledge systems come together  

Left: Ngalangangpum School, Nancy Nodea. © Copyright in this artwork and text remains with the Artist and Warmun Art Centre respectively. Right: Distribution of iron in pigment sample as determined with PIXE. Courtesy of Petronella Nel.

The Melbourne Materials Institute (MMI) and the Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation (CCMC) are pleased to invite you to “The science of conserving Gija art: How Indigenous and Western knowledge systems come together”. In March 2011, floods destroyed the Warmun Community and seriously damaged the significant Warmun Community Art Collection. From this catastrophic event has emerged an exciting engagement between scientists, artists, conservators and art managers that is expanding ways of thinking about art, science and cultural material. Come and join us for a unique insight into the art and science of Indigenous cultural materials conservation and the culture of the Gija people.

Speakers

A/Prof Robyn Sloggett will discuss the importance of incorporating Gija Indigenous knowledge into university-based research and training in art conservation.

Dr Petronella Nel will give an overview of the current techniques used to analyse cultural materials, with a particular focus on understanding the composition of earth based pigments, which are prevalent in Gija art.

In an interview recorded for the occasion a week before the lecture, artists from the Warmun Art Centre will speak about the significance of the Warmun Community Art Collection for the Gita people and the central place of art in their lives. About the speakers and Warmun Art Centre

Date: Thursday 25 October 2012, 6.30pm-7.30pm

Venue: Elisabeth Murdoch Theatre. Refreshments will follow.

Bookingshttp://materials.unimelb.edu.au/news-and-events/events/listing/science-of-conserving-gija-art

Enquiries: Annabelle Pontvianne 9035 3828 or pa@unimelb.edu.au