Awaken Exhibition

Monday to Friday, 10.00am to 4.00pm. Arts West Gallery, Parkville.

Australian Aboriginal cultural heritage objects from a globally significant anthropological collection go on display for the first time in the Arts West Gallery from Monday 15 October. The Awaken exhibition includes items from the Donald Thomson Collection gathered from the diverse communities of Arnhem Land, Cape York, and the Western and Central Deserts during the Melbourne University anthropologist’s 50-year career. A Faculty of Arts and Chancellery initiative, ‘Awaken’ has been developed in consultation with communities, using local knowledge alongside Donald Thomson’s fieldwork notes to activate the object stories and their deep connection with each community. Awaken has been curated by Genevieve Grieves, Worimi Nation film-maker, storyteller and Melbourne Museum Director of First Peoples, assisted by Rosemary Wrench (MV) and alumna Shonae Hobson (Kaantju). It features innovative digital labels, including 3D images and virtual reality.

Ben Kreunen from the University Digitisation Centre was involved in scanning and generating 3D models for the Awaken exhibition. The models are used in the exhibition’s digital label platform to showcase the objects on display.