Restoring the Spirit: Histories of Collecting and the Intersection of First Peoples Cultural Material, Contemporary Art and Curatorial Practice

This research contributes to new knowledge in Indigenised curatorial practice and addresses the gap of Indigenous living cultures and voice in collections, museums and galleries. Through analysing ethnographic collecting histories, fields of theory and curatorial practice this research considers relationality and Country applying a practice of restoring the mulana (spirit) to collections and place. Navigated by a Yorta Yorta cultural framework, new methodology has been developed of Regenerate, Disrupt and Restore guiding community access, research and exhibition making. This practice led research creates a matrix of living complex Indigenous philosophies at the axis of history, historical collections and contemporary art.