Unmapping the End of the World
Walking Country at UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Australia, Japan and Italy.
Mildura Palimpsest Biennale #10 2015 | Exhibition at Mungo National Park & Mildura Regional Gallery
Curated by Jonathan Kimberley
Daniel Browning (Bundjalung / Kullilli, NSW) | Lyota Yagi (Ehime / Kyoto, Japan)
puralia meenamatta Jim Everett (plangermairreenner, lutruwita TAS)
Julie Gough (Tebrikunna, lutruwita, TAS) | Daniel Crooks (New Zealand / Australia)
Koji Ryui (Japan, Sydney NSW) | Jonathan Kimberley (Australia/UK/Europe)
Sasha Huber (Switzerland / Finland / Haiti)
Ricky Mitchell (Paakantji / Mungo, NSW) | Kumpei Miyata (Miyazaki / Fukuoka, Japan)
Daryl Pappin (Mutthi Mutthi / Mungo, NSW) | Yhonnie Scarce (Kokatha / Nukunu, SA)
Camilla Franzoni (Camuni, Italy) | Mishka Henner (UK / France)
There are many words for ‘Country’ including…Kira / Kiida (Barkindji / Paakintji), Thangurra (Mutthi Mutthi), Ngyiampaa (Ngiyampaa), Country (First Nations Australia), Jimoto (Japan), Paese (Italy).
Unmapping the End of the World is an international, decolonial, durational and experimental contemporary art project bringing together a contingent of 14 First Nations, Australian, European and Japanese artists for a unique transcultural praxis walking journey across three UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Australia, Japan and Italy. The project then culminated in a major collaborative installation for the Opening Event of Mildura Palimpsest Biennale #10, 2015.
A combination of deep cultural knowledge and open collaboration was required from all artists. By fostering active participation in knowledge sharing between cultures in specific places, developing and presenting durational work in direct response to this, Unmapping the End of the World asked the key question:
What does rootedness, groundedness, and local identity mean in an age of globalization and technological revolution?
A contemporary Walking Country Art Project on three continents, the journey commenced with the WIllandra Wisdon Walk with Barkindji / Paakintji, Mutthi Mutthi & Ngyiampaa elders at Mungo National Park / Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area in Australia. The artists then journeyed together to Japan to walk the Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage, then onwards to walk the Valcamonica Rock Art Valley in northern Italy.
The overall journey was a performative decolonial unmapping of the end of the world, fostering transcultural discussion and collaborative project development that collectively spanned more than a month. The journey was the catalyst for each artist to then create new work over the following six months in response to the experience.
The project culminated in a major exhibition launched at Mungo National Park & Mildura Regional Gallery in the inland Mildura region, Australia in October 2015.
“You know really, this trip is going to inform my work for the next 10 to 20 years. I’m only just starting to understand the smallest parts of it now.”
The Willandra Wisdom Walk
Stage one of the Unmapping the End of the World project. Curated and developed in collaboration with Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Area, Mungo National Park. The project brought all of the Paakantji, Mutthi Mutthi and Ngiyampaa elders together for the first time in many years to lead a five day walking journey across Mungo National Park.
Special Thanks to: Australian National Commission for UNESCO; Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Area; Mungo National Park; Centro Camuno di Studi Preistorici, Federico Troletti; Foresteria Nadro; Alberto Marretta; Australia Council for the Arts; Yulgilbar Foundation; Walk Japan, John McBride; Australian World Heritage Indigenous Network; Mildura Arts Centre; Arts Mildura; Danielle Hanifin.
