Kickin' up dust

Photographs portray the indigenous culture of Australia

Noazesh Ahmed, a noted photographer, said that though the photographers were not famous, their work was a genuine documentation and they showed considerable fervour. The photographers include Peter Eve, Michael Hutchinson, Liberty Seekee, Jillian Mundy, Adam Thompson and Vernon Graham.

The photographs in the exhibition depict scenes from four cultural festivals that represent the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander life in Australia today. The festivals were held between August 2002 and February 2003. They include the Garma Festival (Northern Territory), Torres Strait Cultural Festival (Queensland), Stompen Ground (Western Australia) and Tasmania. The ancient traditions and rich ceremonial life seen in the photographs are still practiced throughout Australia by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people.

The festivals in the photographs are a reminder of the necessity to preserve indigenous culture through songs, dance and stories.