Past exhibitions

We can all look at the stars, whichever sky we’re looking at.
– Gulumbu Yunupiŋu

Taking a transhistorical approach, Under the Stars presents stargazing and mapping by Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists, highlighting the commonalities and connections in our shared attempts to understand the night sky and our place in relation to it.

This exhibition marks 250 years since Captain Cook landed at Kamay (Botany Bay). For his first voyage (1768–71), Cook had two main missions: to document the transit of Venus and to locate the ‘unknown southern land’. He documented the transit of Venus in 1769 and reached Kamay on 29 April 1770.Under the Stars uses his first aim as a catalyst to bring to light the fascination with and the understandings of stars and the night sky.

With a focus on Indigenous knowledge, it presents an opportunity to explore – at a time when discussions of Cook will be dominated by questions of ownership – an expanse that is not owned and connects us all.

 

Image: Installation view featuring (left to right) Paddy Japaljarri Sims Yanjirlpirri jukurrpa (star dreaming) 2007. Art Gallery of New South Wales, purchased with funds provided by the Aboriginal Collection Benefactors Group 2008 © Paddy Japaljarri Sims. Licensed by Copyright Agency; Naminapu Maymuru-White Milngiyawuy 2013. Art Gallery of New South Wales, Tony Gilbert Bequest Fund 2013 © Naminapu Maymuru-White; Salvador Dali The Milky Way 1964. Art Gallery of New South Wales, purchased 1966 © Salvador Dali, 1964/VEGAP. Licensed by Copyright Agency