Along my travels throughout the continent now known as Australia, making my way through the Red Centre, along the coastline and into the densest bush and in addition to that reading the book ‚The Dreaming Path‘ by Paul Callaghan I got the chance to learn more about and from the Traditional Owners of the lands. I’m very grateful for meeting such genuine Indigenous and Non-Indigenous people and listening to many beautiful, but also tragic and disappointing stories about the histories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. I was able to get to know more about their incredible arts, cultures and ways of thinking. Especially about the meaning and significance of their Country and how complex, powerful and individual this term is for them.
How can any of us relate to and learn from an Aboriginal perspective of what it means to be in your place or even any place that matters to ourselves?
With this project I want to document my perspective and perception of what I see and feel when I'm in Country, in such a variety of places and how diverse and fascinating the environment is in which we live in today. I want to remind us to appreciate this powerful thought that everybody has a different view and complex ideas of what's in front of our eyes. How we emotionally connect to the places we visit, we live in or come from. Where I sometimes caught myself seeing all places the same, blurred, melting together to one, not sure anymore where I belong. Some places were becoming shaped by people I met, experiences I had and feelings I created and some I enjoyed and left again, without even noticing how little I took with me. Except some photos.