Why this piece was chosen...

There were several reasons behind the choice of a drawing by the nineteenth century Aboriginal Artist, Mickey of Ulladulla, to represent the AIATSIS in the Tumblong Web site.

Firstly the drawing illustrates how a great deal of the rare and valuable material in the Institute's collections were obtained. The Institute was formed in Canberra in the early 1960's to help fund, co-ordinate and interpret research into Aboriginal Studies. The Institute's Archives and Library are a major result of the centrality of research to the Institute over the past 30 years. It is relevant here, that the unique collection of Mickey's drawings held by the AIATSIS Pictorial Archive was donated through the auspices of one of the Institute's past Directors, to whom the works were originally shown for identification and explanation.

The majority of the holdings of the AIATSIS Archives has been donated by scholars and Indigenous communities or deposited through AIATSIS grantees, rather than being obtained through purchase. In this way the Institute has obtained invaluable collections without having recourse to a large acquisition budget.

Secondly, the fact that the work originates in the south-east of the continent is significant. The Institute holds material from all regions of Australia and the Torres Strait and links with remote communities have been strengthened through electronic advances such as digitization, CD ROM and the internet. However, ties with the local New South Wales, Victorian and Tasmanian communities are also very important. The Aboriginal communities of the NSW South Coast who trace their descent from the ancestors of Ulladulla Mickey, provide a good example of this close relationship. The Institute is finalising a CD ROM on resources for South Coast Aboriginal history held by the Institute's Archives. In this CD ROM the major themes explored through these multimedia materials are symbolised by the drawings of Ulladulla Mickey.

Lastly the Mickey drawing is significant because along with other works of art on paper made by nineteenth century Aboriginal artists from southeast Australia, it bears testimony to the strong continuity between the 'traditional' and 'contemporary' Aboriginal arts for this region.

Carol Cooper
Manager, Pictorial Archive
AIATSIS Archives & Production

For our suggestions on art and ideas that relate to this artefact, go to Signposts.
To look at discussion surrounding this artefact, go to Crossroads.