“Very totemic and very native”: the entry for Australia at the Venice Biennale traces 65,000 years in the genealogical depths of indigenous heritage, serving as a celebration of the dead and a reflection on global humanity.
In the quiet atmosphere of the Australian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, Bigambul-Camillary artist Archie Moore has spent the past two months meticulously crafting an extensive genealogical narrative using chalk.What began as a project to document his own lineage has evolved into an in-depth exploration of hereditary ties and historical trauma, encapsulated in a monumental work titled Moore, Kate and Relatives.
At first glance, Moore’s installation looks like a vast genealogical tree, its intricate branches stretching across the walls and rising to the ceiling like tendrils of memory.But beneath the surface lies a narrative that spans millennia, offering insights into non-linear concepts of time and place inherent in indigenous cultures.As Moore describes it, his work embodies the notion of the ‘whole year’, a profound understanding of time that transcends linear boundaries.
Central to Moore’s narrative is a white table adorned with meticulously organized records detailing the lives and deaths of hundreds of Indigenous people.Among these records are redacted Coronial Records documenting the deaths of 557 local people in custody and prison, a stark reminder of the ongoing injustices faced by Indigenous communities.Each blank document represents a gap in knowledge, a testament to the countless lives lost and the stories of the incalculable.
Ellie Buttrose, curator of “Moore, Kate & Relatives,” emphasizes the importance of making these gaps visible, recognizing the tension between representation and abstraction inherent in depicting historical trauma. “How do you represent these horrors? How do you give them? “she asks.For Moore and his collaborators, the answer lies in the power of the void, in the spaces between words and images, where silence speaks volumes.
Through his work, Moore invites viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about Australia’s colonial past and the ongoing struggle for Indigenous rights.By combining personal narratives with broader historical contexts, he creates a space for reflection and dialog, challenging viewers to reconsider their own relationships to land, identity, and belonging.
As visitors navigate the labyrinthine corridors of the Australian Pavilion, they encounter not only the weight of history, but also a sense of resilience and hope.In Moore’s genealogical tapestry, they find not only a memorial to the past, but a testament to the enduring spirit of indigenous cultures that continue to thrive despite centuries of adversity.
In a world marked by division and displacement, Moore, Kate and Relatives serves as a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all humanity.When we look at the faces and names captured in Moore’s heritage tree, we are reminded that we are all part of a shared history, bound together by threads of memory and heritage that stretch across time and space.
