We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the ancient lands on which we will gather for this symposium, the peoples of the Kulin Nation. We acknowledge that the land, sea and sky were never ceded and pay our deepest respect to Elders, past, present and future.
18-21 July 2018
Indigenous design perspectives are gaining great currency recently in Australia and in Melbourne in particularly. However, the contribution, methodology and inspirations of Indigenous design professionals and thinkers is largely concealed from view.
Titled ‘Go Back to Where You Came From: Indigenous Design – Past | Present | Future’ the inaugural Symposium of the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning (ABP) was carefully curated as a provocation to explore the role of Indigenous design, to showcase a range of established local and international First Nations design practitioners across a diversity of disciplines and an opportunity to reveal design approaches, which straddle interconnected themes of culture, Country and identity.
This gathering will reveal a range of distinct insights drawn from many experiences, people and forms of cultural expression, including but not limited to architecture, landscape architecture, communication design, planning, interior design, spatial design along with community perspectives. An Indigenous led approach to knowledge exchange seeks to embrace complexity, demystify and challenge stereotypes, while celebrating history, memory and place.
We invite you to listen, learn, participate and engage in what will be a culturally immersive experience of presentations and conversations, enriched by speakers from Canada to El Salvador, New Zealand to South Africa, as well as the diverse mosaic that is Indigenous Australia.
Jefa Greenaway (Wailwan | Kamilaroi)
Conference Convenor
Collaborators
- Koorie Heritage Trust Inc
- Indigenous Architecture and Design Victoria
- Murrup Barak - Melbourne Institute for Indigenous Development
- Endorsed by the International Council of Design
About the artwork
In this commissioned piece’s interpretation by Mick Harding, Taunwurrung and Kulin and Frida Larios, Maya-pipil: two cultures speak to the Indigenous Design Symposium and beyond. We see the Kulin peoples's Bunjil deity sees through heavens carrying the Maya Kakaw (chocolate) fruit and skull in its wings, representing our ancestors. Bunjil is ready to fly while the immortal Cacao (Kakaw) root with encrusted diamond pattern, binds him to eternal Mother Earth.