UQ Showcases History And Artistry Of Indigenous Shields

Shields: Design and functionality showcases the history, artistic intricacies and regional variations of more than 130 shields traditionally used by Aboriginal people for demonstrations, conflict resolution and symbolic warfare.

Museum Director Mr Michael Aird said many pieces date back to the early 1900s and were sourced from regional and rural communities from throughout Australia.

"Our exhibition shows the variation in design depending on the region where the shields were created," Mr Aird said.

"The shields from Brisbane have a much simpler design compared to those from the North Queensland rainforests, and by sorting the artefacts by region it allows us to bring together what we know about different regional styles."

Mr Aird said the concept for the exhibition was inspired by research he has undertaken for a book he is contributing to on shields from Queensland.

"I realised that many of the shields in the museum's collection are unprovenanced - we don't know exactly where they came from - and there was also some misinformation," he said.

"For example, a database originally labelled one shield as originating from the Kimberley in Western Australia, but when we compared it with others that had similar designs it would have made more sense to have come from Southwest Queensland or North West New South Wales."

The exhibition includes historical photographs of the people and places connected to the shields, with images sourced from the Anthropology Museum, Fryer Library, The Royal Collection in the UK, Peabody Museum in the USA, National Archives of Australia, Queensland Museum and private collections.

One photo shows an intricately decorated shield held by a man from the Hervey Bay area for the procession of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York during their visit to Brisbane in 1901. Mr Aird's research has identified that the shield has been held in the collection of the Queensland Museum since 1904.

From traditional to contemporary

The collection of historical shields sits alongside works by contemporary Indigenous artists influenced by traditional designs - Bernard Singleton Jnr, Judy Watson, Paul Bong, Jennifer Herd and Dylan Sarra.

Umpila, Djabugay/Yirrgay artist Bernard Singleton Jnr said he was inspired by his father's work in archaeology and the timber craftsmanship of his grandfather and uncle.

"Exhibitions like Shields showcase the continuation of practice and culture, while keeping our knowledge systems at our core," Mr Singleton said.

"I hope visitors to the exhibition recognise there needs to be a stronger focus on traditional practices and revival of crafting."

Yidinji artist Paul Bong said the Shields exhibition allowed him to present his contemporary artwork on a different level.

"By combining traditional shield designs with contemporary materials and forms, I'm showing that our culture is still alive and evolving," Mr Bong said.

"That's why I believe it's good to showcase my artwork in this way, it represents my identity, my culture, and the continuation of our stories through new mediums."

Mr Aird said he hoped visitors to the exhibition leave with a greater understanding of the cultural significance of the shields.

"There's so much cultural diversity, and I don't think that's something people realise," he said.