Technology & Country with Robert Andrew

As a proud descendant of the Yawuru people, Robert Andrew’s art practice investigates histories that have been denied or forgotten. His work speaks to the past yet articulates a contemporary relationship to his Country.

In this webinar Robert Andrew will speak to his practice which combines programmable machinery with earth pigments, ochres, rocks and soil to mine historical, cultural and personal events that have been buried and distanced by the dominant paradigms of western culture.

This educator webinar links to the Cross-Curriculum priority of ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures’. This webinar offers a case study for how First Nations contemporary art practices can provide insight into the complex relationship between people, culture and Country. Robert Andrew’s use of technology may assist educators and their students to explore, understand and analyse how First Nations people sustain environments, histories, cultures and identities through and creating appropriate and sustainable solutions. In particular, the following Organising Ideas (OI) will be discussed:

• OI.2 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities maintain a special connection to and responsibility for Country/Place.
• OI.3 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have holistic belief systems and are spiritually and intellectually connected to the land, sea, sky and waterways.
• OI.6 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples live in Australia as first peoples of Country or Place and demonstrate resilience in responding to historic and contemporary impacts of colonisation.
• OI.8 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ family and kinship structures are strong and sophisticated.

Please bring:

• Questions to discuss with Robert about his work. You will have the option to provide these to Flying Arts in advance of the webinar. 
• Note-taking materials (recommended).