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enter fullscreenAcknowledgement
The Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land upon which the Gallery and tow row sculpture stand in Brisbane.
We pay respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past and present and, in the spirit of reconciliation, acknowledge the immense creative contribution Indigenous people make to the art and culture of this country.
Warning
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visitors are advised that there are photographs of ancestors within this site and that care and discretion should be exercised. It is customary for many Indigenous people not to mention the name or reproduce photographs of the deceased.
tow row was a special commission by the Gallery as a public sculpture for the entrance to GOMA, and to celebrate this place and its enduring Indigenous culture and heritage.
You can see more of Judy Watson's thought-provoking art in public spaces across Brisbane and at galleries around the world.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the following people and organisations for their input and assistance from the artwork's creation to this construction of this digital reality experience.
The artist
Judy Watson
The artwork
Judy Watson, Waanyi people, Australia b.1959 / tow row 2016 / Bronze / Commissioned 2016 to mark the tenth anniversary of the opening of the Gallery of Modern Art and realised with generous support from the Queensland Government, the Neilson Foundation and Cathryn Mittelheuser, AM through the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art Foundation / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery / © The artist
Narrator
Roxanne McDonald
The artist acknowledges
Michael Aird
Aunty Maroochy Barambah
Elisa (Leecee) Jane Carmichael
Otis Carmichael
Lyndon & Nicky Davis
Lyndon Davis would like to acknowledge the Jinibara people of the lawyer cane.
Ray Kerkhove
Uncle Joe Kirk
Josh Milani
Imelda Miller
Kevin O'Brien
Uncle Des and Aunty Robyn Sandy
John Schiavo
Kevin Smith
Uncle Eddie Ruska
Madonna Thomson
and UAP (Urban Art Projects) staff
Daniel Tobin, Founder & Creative Director
Matthew Tobin, Founder & Managing Director
Ann-Maree Willett, Strategic Partnerships
Paul Bielefeld
Christen Bill
Thomas Christensen
Kevin Clare
Matteo Fantini
Amanda Harris
Ian Kath
Ethan Kennedy
Hossein Khosravi
Alex Kurbatoff
Tasman Mora
Adam Meisenhelter
John Nicholson
Rebecca Powell
Jason Precoma
Jerko Starcevic
QAGOMA Executive Management Team
Chris Saines CNZM, Director
Simon Elliott, Deputy Director, Collection and Exhibitions
Tarragh Cunningham, Assistant Director, Development and Commercial Services
Duane Lucas, Assistant Director, Operations and Governance
Simon Wright, Assistant Director, Learning and Public Engagement
QAGOMA Indigenous Advisory Panel
Avril Quaill — Chair
Nancy Bamaga
Dr. Bianca Beetson
Helena Gulash
Louisa Warren
David Williams
QAGOMA project team
Katina Davidson, Curator, Indigenous Australian Art
Terry Deen, Head of Learning
Bronwyn Klepp, Head of Marketing
Bruce McLean, former Curator, Indigenous Australian Art, QAGOMA (until December 2019)
Sophia Sambono, Associate Curator, Indigenous Australian Art
Additional QAGOMA support
Cath. M Charlton, Librarian, Research Library
Gilimbaa
ROMEO Digital
Marco Eychenne, Creative Director
Nancy Hartley, Copywriter
Madeleine Perrin, Designer
Oscar Nicholson, Co-founder / Innovation Director
Amanda Schultz, Managing Director
Richard Spear, Business Director
Jennifer Haig, Account Manager — Strategy & Insights
Joel Garvey, Technical Director
Samuel Dale, Lead Interactive Developer
Brian Hay, 3D Developer
Daniel Ziemer, Digital Producer
Deb Enright, Copywriter
Recording: Martine Fowle and David Champion, The Voice Plant
Sound Design: Greg Crittenden, Take 2
Photo Imaging: Justin Overell
This digital reality experience was assisted with funds from the Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Diversity Foundation.
References
Historical Maps
FE Hiscock, 'City of Brisbane 1878', in New District Atlas of Queensland, October 2010, https://www.qhatlas.com.au/map/city-brisbane-1878, viewed June 2021.
Flinders, Matthew / General chart of Terra Australis or Australia showing the parts explored between 1798 and 1803 by M. Flinders Commr. of H.M.S. Investigator 1814
Dimensions and medium unknown
MAP T 1494
Historical Images
Alfred Henry Elliott
England / Australia (1870 – 1954)
Aboriginals fishing, Maroochy River, 1890.
Glass plate negative
16.5 x 12cm
Acc. 05-ELL-1890-012
Collection: City of Brisbane Collection, Museum of Brisbane.
Photograph: Merinda Campbell, QAGOMA
John William Lindt
Germany/Australia VIC 1845-1926
No. 15 Young man with a fishing net 1870-73
Albumen print
20 x 15cm
Acc. GRG2005.19
Gift of Sam and Janet Cullen and family 2004
Collection: Grafton Regional Gallery.
Black and white photograph, man with fishing nets - "King Johnny Boat of Deception Bay, alias Billy Cook" (Steele 1983:164)
Dimensions unknown
Reg. No. EH34 / dh3293
Collection: Queensland Museum
Photograph: Peter Waddington
It is likely this image was taken c. late 1800s and the original photographer may have been Will Stark.
Black and white photograph, man with fishing nets - "King Johnny Boat of Deception Bay, alias Billy Cook" (Steele 1983:164)
Dimensions unknown
Reg. No. EH33 / dh3293
Collection: Queensland Museum
Photograph: Peter Waddington
It is likely this image was taken c. late 1800s and the original photographer may have been Will Stark.
Photograph of Judy Watson & tow row
Judy Watson
Waanyi people
Australia b.1959
tow row 2016
Bronze
Commissioned 2016 to mark the tenth anniversary of the opening of the Gallery of Modern Art and realised with generous support from the Queensland Government, the Neilson Foundation and Cathryn Mittelheuser, AM through the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art Foundation.
©The artist
Collection: Queensland Art Gallery
Photograph: Mark Sherwood
360° Scenes
360° photographs for the two immersive scenes (The making of tow row and tow row in use) taken on location at Nudgee Beach Reserve and Wetlands.
The flora and fauna for these scenes were based on primary and secondary historical accounts from reports, publications, journal articles and websites. While accuracy has been attempted wherever possible, these scenes should be taken as an interpretation of these accounts, and not perfect rendition of pre-colonial Kurilpa.
These references, along with general research used to inform our understanding throughout, are catalogued in detail in the resources section below.
Conclusion
In the artist's own words: 'The Aboriginal pathways are like bloodlines of ochre connecting us to the past and present. Feel the spirit of a multitude of ancestors who walked here before us; we are walking in their footprints.'
Resources
Publications
Fisher, Rod (ed.) (2020, first published 1990), Brisbane: The Aboriginal Presence 1824—1860. Boolarong Press, Tingalpa, Queensland
Kerkhove, Ray (2015), Aboriginal Camp Sites of Greater Brisbane: An Historical Guide. Boolarong Press, Salisbury, Queensland
Kerkhove, Ray (1985), West End to Woolloongabba: The Early and Aboriginal History of a District, Foundation for Aboriginal and Islander Research Action, Brisbane, Queensland
Pascoe, Bruce (2018), Dark Emu. Scribe Publications, London, England
Petrie, Constance Campbell (1992, first published 1904), Tom Petrie's Reminiscences of Early Brisbane. University of Queensland Press, St. Lucia, Queensland
Steele, John Gladstone (1984), Aboriginal Pathways in Southeast Queensland and the Richmond River, University of Queensland Press, St. Lucia, Queensland
Watson, Judy & Martin-Chew, Louise (2009), blood language, Meigunyah Press, Carlton, Victoria.
Journal articles
Walters, Ian (1985) 'Some observations on the material culture of Aboriginal fishing in the Moreton Bay area: Implications for archaeology', in Queensland Archaeological Research, vol. 2, https://journals.jcu.edu.au/qar/article/view/194, viewed July 2021.
Kidd, Ros (2000) 'Aboriginal history of South Brisbane', in Journal of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland
Kerkhove, Ray (2013), 'Aboriginal trade in fish and sea foods in 19th century SE Queensland', in Queensland Review vol. 20, no. 2. pp. 144-56, https://doi.org/10.1017/qre.2013.17, viewed July 2021.
Online resources
Kerkhove, Ray (n.d.) Mapping Brisbane History, https://mappingbrisbanehistory.com.au/brisbane-history-essays/brisbane-southside-history/first-australians-and-original-landscape/indigenous-sites/, viewed June 2021.
Reports
Cross River Rail Delivery Authority (2011) Indigenous Cultural Heritage in Cross River Rail Cultural Heritage Management Plan, https://eisdocs.dsdip.qld.gov.au/Completed%20Projects/Cross%20River%20Rail/EIS/EIS%2030%20Aug%202011/01%20Volume%201/18%20Indigenous%20Cultural%20Heritage.pdf, viewed June 2021.
Prangnell, Jon; Terry, Linda; Smith, Tam; Lacey, Amelia; and Buckler, Aleisha (2010) Proposed Cross River Rail Project: Cultural Heritage Report PART A, https://eisdocs.dsdip.qld.gov.au/Completed%20Projects/Cross%20River%20Rail/EIS/EIS%2030%20Aug%202011/03%20Volume%203/Technical%20Report%209%20Cultural%20Heritage%20%20Part%20A.pdf, viewed June 2021.
QAGOMA digital channels
Website
Blog
Collection search
Information on this site has been derived from numerous sources and best efforts were undertaken to obtain cultural approvals of photography from the Queensland Museum and Museum of Brisbane Collections. We welcome any other information you may have on the content within this experience.
Please email us at gallery@qagoma.qld.gov.au.
© Queensland Art Gallery Board of Trustees, 2021
