An idea seeded nine years ago has inspired what could be the largest Aboriginal dot artwork in the world.
Kado Muir, a Ngalia custodian, artist, anthropologist, archaeologist and cultural awareness trainer from the deserts of Western Australia, is one of the driving forces behind the project, titled ‘Reclaim the Void.’
In 2013, Muir and WA conceptual artist Vivienne Robertson were visiting Ngalia Elders in Leonora.
During discussions about other art projects, conversation turned to the pain Elders felt from the scarring of the surrounding land through mining operations.
The Elders spoke about the ‘gaping mining holes’ left on their Country, and the idea of symbolically ‘sealing’ one of those holes with an artwork was discussed.
“The legacy of that is, we have all this Country that is pockmarked with holes... Some of these holes, they dig for three months and then [the miners are] gone, but the hole and the injury in the earth stays forever,” he said.
“This project is looking at reclaiming those holes or those voids by bringing art back in, but it's art about Country and art about connecting the Tjukurrpa or the dreaming tracks.”
Kado Muir. Source: Supplied: Nic Duncan
'The injury stays forever'
Hundreds of colourful, handmade rag rugs have now been woven not only by Ngalia people, but people across Australia and even some from New Zealand and the United States of America, in an effort to do just that.
“We see this project as bringing together not only Aboriginal people from our region but also elsewhere together with non-Aboriginal people,” Muir said.
It was decided the best way to create such an artwork would be by making individual weaved rugs that could then be joined together as a textile artwork.
While this type of weaving is not a traditional method of art for the Ngalia people, it provides a medium for which an Aboriginal artwork telling the story of the surrounding land can then be created from.
The project brings people from different cultures to work together, with individual rugs used to create a version of one of Muir’s late mother’s paintings, which tells the story of the Country.
Some of the mats created in preparation for a potential future artwork.
Organisers are in talks with a couple of mining companies in the area about an open pit site to place the artwork, hoping to find a ‘smaller’ open pit mine, with a diameter of about 100 to 200 metres. Such an area would require somewhere between 3000 and 5000 rugs.
Workshops are being held on Ngalia Country, as an opportunity for people from the region to come together to contribute, others are also invited to the workshops to assist in the rug making and connect and learn about the local culture.
A number of schools in the West Australian Goldfields are also getting involved in the project with students learning how to weave rag rugs to contribute.
Muir and Robertson are hopeful a site will be found so the final artwork could be installed by early 2024.
Until a site can be confirmed, it is not known how long the piece would stay in place or what sort of opportunities there will be for people to view it, but it is hoped it will create opportunities to benefit the local community.
Anyone is able to contribute to the artwork, instructions and specifications for the rag rugs required .
