John Carty

Birrundudu Drawings exhibition opened in the most beautiful possible way this weekend, with the descendants of the artists singing and dancing and talking that 80 year old story, and all the stories it unlocks forever more, back to life. Congratulations to all the proud people across the desert who made this possible, @warlayirti_artists who facilitated the project from day one, and to Jessyca Hutchens & Stephen Gilchrist @berndt.museum for creating such a beautiful exhibition. #birrundududrawings #birrundudu

In 1945, 16 Aboriginal men drew 810 images to explain their world to the anthropologist Ronald Berndt. Here are 10 from that monumental archive. If you want to understand the other 800, buy yourself an Xmas present and grab a copy of the Birrundudu Drawings book. Better yet, buy everyone you love a copy. It’s the most beautiful object, full of the most extraordinary stories, and every other half-baked trinket you rushed around looking for will seem cheap and hollow by comparison. Buy online @upswellpublishingau and all good booksellers. Link in bio… @berndt.museum @warlayirti_artists

Today the Kaurna people conducted the final reburial ceremony for their ancestors at Wangayarta burial ground. Over the last four years Kaurna have led the way in bringing peace to their ancestors, and to their community, laying to rest a total of 577 ancestors who had languished in the undignified boxes of Museums and Universities here in Adelaide and overseas. It’s a historic, brave, overwhelming achievement of cultural care and conviction by Uncle Jeffrey Newchurch, Aunty Madge Wanganeen, Uncle Moogy Sumner, Allen Sumner and the whole team of young Kaurna people they brought on this difficult journey. The smiles today, the relief, the pride all shone through the rain. What a thing to have done… together. #repatriation #kaurna #wangayarta @southaustralianmuseum @uniofadelaide

Very, very excited to announce that I’ll be spending the next 4 years working with the Warlpiri artists of central Australia. Warlpiri are amongst the most influential artists and cultural pioneers in Australian history. From the Warlpiri Men’s Museum to the Yuendumu Doors, from the Dreamings exhibition in New York to the Bush Mechanics, even the forecourt of the Australian Parliament in Canberra, they have continually transformed colonial structures into powerful cultural and cross-cultural mediums. Despite this outsized influence, a Warlpiri art history has never been written. This collaborative project co-designed by @warlu_art and Kurdiji Wirda (the Warlpiri cultural authority) will explore and share this extraordinary story: working with elders and artists and young Warlpiri film makers and researchers side by side. The last few years have been difficult in Yuendumu. It’s time to listen to Warlpiri tell some big, beautiful stories again. This project is funded by the @arc_govau Images: 1) The Yuendumu Doors on display at the SA Museum. 2) The Yuendumu school doors painters (from left), Paddy Jupurrurla Nelson, Roy Jupurrurla Curtis, Paddy Japaljarri Stewart, Paddy Japaljarri Sims, Larry Jungarrayi Spencer: circa 1987 3) The Warlpiri sand sculpture that dominates the 1989 exhibition Magiciens de la Terre in Paris. ‘Yam Dreaming’ was created by Francis Jupurrurla Kelly, Frank Bronson Jakamarra Nelson, Paddy Jupurrurla Nelson, Neville Japangardi Poulson, Paddy Japaljarri Sims, Paddy Japaljarri Stewart, and Towser Jakamarra Walker. 4) The Yuendumu Men’s Museum 5) Hilda Nakamarra Rogers, Lukarrara Jukurrpa, 183 x 107cm, 2020. 6) WARLUKURLANGU CHAIRPERSON WENDY NUNGURRAYI BROWN, BOARDMEMBER REANNE NAMPIJINPA BROWN, ARTS WORKER SEBASTIAN JAPANANGKA WILLIAMS. 7) Julie Nangala Robertson, Mina MIna Jukurrpa, 152 x 122cm, 2022. 8) The leaders of the Warlpiri Project at the State Library of SA. 9) Senior artists and their families at Yuendumu 📸 @warlu_art 10) Warlukurlangu Art Centre in Yuendumu #warlpiri #Warlpiriarthistory @warlu_art #aboriginalarthistory #yuendumu @adelaideuni @uoa.able @ceciliaalfonso64 @sarita.quinlivan @__jamiehampton

Birrundudu Book Run. After waiting 80 years to share these drawings, we weren’t going to wait for the post. Spent the last few days hand delivering the Birrundudu Drawings book to authors, elders and families in Kununurra, Halls Creek, Billiluna and Balgo. Book hits the shops next week, with launches and exhibitions and general wonderment to follow…. #Birrundudu #BirrunduduDrawings #AboriginalArtHistory @berndt.museum @warlayirti_artists @tjungiya07 @luke.scholes @jessycahutchens @jasonmgibson @alistair.paterson @upswellpublishingau @terriann.white @uoa.able

The afternoon light of 2025 falls on a story that began 80 years earlier… at a place called Birrundudu, in 1945, in the 800 drawings that 16 Aboriginal men created to try and explain their world. This is that story. And this here is the glorious advance copy: the rest hit the world in August. They will sell out and then cost $800 on eBay so preorder now - link in bio or go to Upswell website: /product/birrundudu-drawings

Goodbye sweet old girl. You always knew how to find your slice of the sun. Discovered as a puppy dragging a camel bone down the street in Port Hedland, you ended up living 17 improbable years of the camp-dog—high-life in Canberra and Adelaide. You were here for us when we were sick, when we were sad, when we were lonely. For everything our family experienced. You were the greatest gift anyone ever gave us @sallybgally and @perezlington ... Rest now in a warm and unmoving window of sunlight.

The Spinifex People have the wildest story to tell, and for decades now @spinifexarts has helped them to tell it. Their incandescent art history is open now and over the summer at @wamuseum … #spinifexartsproject #spinifexart #wamuseum

News in overnight from the USA is that Balgo: Creating Country won the 2024 CMA book prize. No point me reiterating how rich and important that Balgo history and art history is, so I’ll leave the acceptance from @warlayirti_artists here: “We are very proud of this book, and we are happy that other people can see its importance through this award. Our art is more than art, more than painting, it is our Country – who we are as people. It takes a lot to see what we are painting. This book tells that story: from the early days before whitefellas, to the mission days, and now today, where we are strong people who have built a new life for ourselves in Balgo. That’s what’s in our painting. It’s a big book, but it tells an even bigger story” Here’s to telling bigger stories then… @uwapublishing #balgo #creatingcountry #councilformuseumanthropology #books @uniofadelaide @uoa.able @sweet_polka

And snap, I’m a wizard again. As Professor of Museum and Curatorial Studies @uniofadelaide I’m excited to help chart new terrain in the Humanities working with Aboriginal scholars and communities, and doubling down on questions of memory and repatriation. I’m also just happy to be back at Hogwarts, teaching the next generation how to use their magic again. And for those good souls offering me jobs in the winery 😂 I’m not quite ready, yet…. 📸 Here I am with Professor Jodie Conduit and our Chancellor Catherine Branson. Looking official. #uniadelaide #humanities @uoa.able

After 9 extraordinary years, I’m leaving the SA Museum. Working with and sharing what I believe to be the most important cultural collection in the world has been the greatest privilege. I’m immeasurably grateful to all the Aboriginal leaders and community members here in SA who gave me the grace and time to learn. The same goes to all my colleagues at the museum. These past 9 years feel like a life time. And in some ways it has been. It’s time to take a breath, take that learning in, and then turn it to new beginnings.