Passing through the inside of Songline’s travelling marquee | Photo credit: Jason McCarthy
Once upon a time, an evil wizard pursued a group of sisters in search of a wife, often changing his appearance to deceive them. Knowing of his evil intentions, the sisters fled to the other end of the country; they were also shape-shifters and the path they took became a song-line.
This is the story of the origins of the Pleiades constellation as told by the Aboriginal community – different versions of the story exist in cultures around the world. Over time, there are also passages known as Songlines or Dreaming Tracks, which trace the routes and movements of the ancestors as they travelled across Australia.
The digital Songline created by the National Museum of Australia in partnership with Master Studios offers visitors a glimpse into Australian Aboriginal knowledge. Walking Through a Songline is an effort to share sacred Aboriginal traditions that have been passed down from one generation to the next with people outside the community.
Passing through the inside of Songline’s travelling marquee | Photo credit: Jason McCarthy
8.5/5.5 meter radiusThe digital experience will last seven minutes and allow you to listen to the ancient language as well as relive the folktales in 3D. The voices have been used with the consent of the custodians and experts of these stories.
Starry skies, rocky terrain, torrential rain and more all come together as you follow the path of the fleeing sisters and their pursuer.
The digital experience is a part of Walking Through a Songline, which also includes a reading corner, film screenings and an exhibition of indigenous fabric. The fabrics on display have been created and designed by women from Arnhem Land at Babbarra Women’s Centre in Australia, using the woodblock technique and sustainable dyes in collaboration with Bengaluru’s Tharangini Studio.
Also read: Jarachara: Where tribal art and Indian block printing meet
The performance will be held in the Science Gallery every Saturday from 6 p.m. Song lines on screenA series of six short films on the history and culture of Indigenous groups in far western, northern and central Australia.
Walking Through a Songline is on tour to several cities in India and the schedule can be found at www.nma.gov.au/exhibitions. It will remain on display at the Science Gallery in Bengaluru until August 18, 2024.
This exhibition is free and open to all.
