Awakening Histories
Exhibition dates
Monash University Museum of Art
4 October – 6 December 2025
Continuing
Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA)
6 February – 29 March 2026
Opening event
Saturday 4 October, 2–4pm
Artist and curator talks 1.15–1.45pm
Artists and Participants
Abdul-Rahman Abdullah, Aziziah Diah Aprilya, Zaenal Beta, John Bulunbulun (Ganalbingu), Cian Dayrit, Dogmilk Films, Gunybi Ganambarr (Naymil), Global Encounters Monash and MAREGE Institute, Guan Wei, Colin Heenan-Purunatameri and Michelle Woody Minnapinni (Tiwi), Karrabing Film Collective, Abdi Karya and Sana, Jenna Lee (Larrakia, Wardaman, Karajarri), Nancy McDinny (Garrwa, Yanyuwa), Mathaman Marika (Rirratjingu), Mawalan 1 Marika (Rirratjingu), The Mulka Project, Dhambit Munuŋgurr (Djapu, Waṉḏawuy, Dhuwa), Trevor Nakanapa Maminyamanja (Anindilyaugwa), Ipeh Nur, Margaret Rarru Garrawurra (Liyagawumirr, Garrawurra), Wilda Yanti Salam, Darrell Sibosado (Bard), Ms M Wirrpanda (Dhuḏi-Djapu), Bulthirrirri Wunuŋmurra (Dhaḻwaŋu), Mr N Wunuŋmurra (Dhaḻwaŋu) and Ms D Yinupiŋu (Gumatj, Rrakpala).
Curatorium:
Professor Rebecca Coates, Monash University Museum of Art
Amanda Haskard, Monash Museum University of Art
Dr David Haworth, Monash University, Global Encounters Senior Research Officer
Hannah Mathews, Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts
Dr Melanie Oliver, formerly Monash University Museum of Art
Francis E. Parker, Monash University Museum of Art
Nurabdiansyah Ramli (Abi), Makassar State University
Professor Lynette Russell AM, Monash University, Global Encounters Project Lead
Pierra Van Sparkes, formerly Monash University Museum of Art
About the exhibition
Awakening Histories traces the deep connections between First Nations peoples and Southeast Asian seafarers from the port of Makassar in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, celebrating enduring relationships that remain prominent in art, language and material culture.
Featuring new commissions and key loans, the twenty-seven artists and collectives presented in this exhibition share stories of migration, trade and cultural exchange, highlighting the roles of trepang or sea cucumber, trochus and turtle shells, tamarind trees, palm wine, seafaring technology, metal tools, textiles and patterns in histories shared across the ocean. Artworks reflect on stories and songs of the interactions that have taken place across the north of this continent, now known as Australia, from the Gulf of Carpentaria, around Arnhem Land to Garamilla/Darwin—an area known as Marege to the sailors from Makassar—and beyond to the Kimberley region, or Kayu Djawa.
While the origin of the trepang trade is unknown, the displacement of landowners in the Sultanate of Gowa in South Sulawesi by Dutch colonists in the seventeenth century spurred its growth as an alternative source of income. The trepangers were mostly of Makassan, Bugis and Malay ethnicity and are considered the first people to practice Islam on this continent. Large fleets of praus or sailing vessels arrived on the trade winds each year, their crews collecting and processing trepang over several months until the winds changed and they sailed home with cargoes destined for consumption in China. This was an international trade, negotiated with the sovereign peoples of Marege and Kayu Djawa. Towards the end of the nineteenth century, however, the South Australian Government began to impose import duties and then licensing fees on the praus. In 1906, the licenses were cancelled–-in line with the White Australia Policy– effectively banning a centuries-old trade.
Foregrounding Indigenous sovereignty and ocean-centred storytelling, Awakening Histories reinforces the understanding of Country as sea, sky and land, the passing of knowledge through families and generations—living histories that counter assumptions that this land’s peoples were isolated or that it was ‘discovered’ by Europeans during colonial expansion. The exhibition aims to shift understandings of this country’s history and contribute to the dialogue around First Nations ways of knowing and being, reasserting sovereignty.
MUMA acknowledges that this exhibition is taking place on Boonwurrung, Bunurong and Wurundjeri Country, the unceded lands of the Kulin Nations.
Advisory
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that the exhibition contains images, voices and names of deceased persons.
Access information
Physical access: MUMA is a ground-floor, wheelchair-accessible gallery with accessible and all-gender bathrooms. Gallery spaces are on a level surface. Contact us for a parking map or further information.
Visually described tours: Get in touch by email to muma@monash.edu or phone 03 9905 4217 to make an appointment for a visually described tour (for blind or low vision visitors).
Acknowledgements
Awakening Histories has been informed by Monash University’s ARC Laureate project Global Encounters & First Nations Peoples: 1000 Years of Australian History.
Awakening Histories is presented in partnership with Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA). The exhibition will tour to PICA, 6 February – 29 March 2026.
Image: Dhambit Munuŋgurr, Gunyaŋara Makassans 2025 (detail). Monash University Collection, Naarm/Melbourne. Image courtesy of Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Gadigal/Sydney. Photo: David Suyasa
Resources
VIDEO: Artist Interviews
Hear from three artists; Abdi Karya, Aziziah Diah Aprilya and Darrell Sibosado (Bard), on their work featured in Awakening Histories.
Poster
A free and downloadable A1 poster featuring Dhambit Munuŋgurr's (Djapu, Wandawuy and Dhuwa) bark painting Gunyaŋara Makkassans 2025, it brings together artist statements, stories and connections shared in the exhibition.
Artwork Labels
Learn about the artworks and twenty-seven artists and collectives presented in this exhibition.
Education Resource
An education resource designed for school-aged young people and their teachers to engage with the artworks and ideas of Awakening Histories. Educators are invited to use the materials within and adjust them to meet the learning needs of their students. Download here
Installation Views
Programs
ART+FILM: The Mulka Project
Wednesday 8 October, 2025
6.30pm
Cinema 2, Level 2, ACMI, Fed Square
Awakening Histories: Curatorial Tours
Tuesday 7 October, 10.30–11am
Thursday 9 October, 12–12.30pm
Media Release
Awakening Histories Reveals Deep Ties Between Australian First Nations Peoples and Indonesian Makassans
Media Release: 21 August 2025