Cultural Medicine: The Art of Indigenous Healing

This exhibition follows the premise of Tjukurrpa (dreaming). It looks at traditional Indigenous healing practice as past, present and future simultaneously. It presents examples of healing practice from the many distinct and varied Indigenous communities throughout Australia through contemporary art practice.

In 2015 the Medical History Museum began collecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art that depicted bush medicine and healing practices culminating in a major exhibition The art of healing: Australian Indigenous bush medicine in 2018 that toured internationally to London and Berlin.

Cultural Medicine: The Art of Indigenous Healing reveals new works by First Nations Australians who generously share their extensive knowledge of bush medicine and healing practices. This exhibition builds on existing relationships with artists and communities.  Works have been acquired from artists and art centres from throughout Australia including works from Kaiela Arts, Shepparton, Iltja Ntjarra (Many Hands) Alice Springs, Barkley Regional Arts, Tennant Creek and Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Centre, Yirrkala, The key to the exhibition is revealing that traditional Indigenous healing is a current practice informed by the past and an intrinsic part of the life of indigenous people in Australia.

Enquiries: Medical History Museum