Freshwater Saltwater – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island prints

Water holds deep spiritual and cultural significance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. The vast network of rivers, creeks, billabongs, lakes and coastal regions found across the country represent a rich source of food and culture for Indigenous Australians. Marine environments are places to hunt, fish and to have contact with non-Indigenous Australians. For this reason, water is central to dreaming stories and different forms of marine life are often used as family or clan totems.

In this exhibition of prints from the Australian National Maritime Museum, the artists have used printmaking as a medium for strengthening their cultural identity and their connection back to 'country'. Their vivid representations of marine life celebrate the survival of their communities and their struggle for land and sea rights and justice. All of their works commemorate the rich living relationship between Indigenous people and water in Australia.

Exhibition itinerary

South Australian Maritime Museum
21 Aug - 24 Oct 2010
126 Lipson Street Port Adelaide South Australia


Maitland Regional Art Gallery
11 March - 1 May 2011
230 High Street Maitland NSW


Tweed River Art Gallery
6 May - 7 August 2011
2 Mistral Road Murwillumbah NSW


Burnie Regional Art Gallery
17 Dec 2011- 29 Jan 2012
77-79 Wilmot Street Burnie Tasmania


Geelong Gallery
18 Feb- 15 April 2012
Little Malop Street Geelong Victoria


Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery
15 May - 8 July 2012
1 Barolin Street Bundaberg Queensland


Bribie Island Seaside Museum
2 August - 1 October 2012
1 South Esplanade Bongaree Bribie Island Queensland

This exhibition is supported by the National Collecting Institutions Touring and Outreach Program, an Australian Government program aiming to improve access to the national collections for all Australians.