In a lecture by Stephen the other week he mentioned the explorer Charles Mountford who was one of the first white Australians to visit Indigenous communities and encourage them to make drawings using western materials. I wanted to find out a little more about his expeditions and while internet searching I came across these drawings made in 1940 by Pitjantjatjara children at the Ernabella Mission in the Musgrave Ranges in north-west South Australia. The drawings were collected by Mountford on a journey to Central Australia and are now held by the State Library of South Australia. Apparently, the Ernabella mission was one of the only which aimed to preserve Indigenous ways of life whilst introducing European principles and education. I think this is manifested in the drawings which include Pitjantjatjaran motifs and objects.
TjantjintiUntitled (child’s drawing) Ernabella 1940
crayon on paper; 40.0 x 44.0cm
Donated by Charles P. Mountford, 1959
LangalikiUntitled (child’s drawing) Ernabella 1940
crayon on paper; 40.0 x 44.0cm
Donated by Charles P. Mountford, 1959
To me, these drawings are beautiful and fascinating. The use of colour by the children is interesting from an aesthetic viewpoint, as are the tiny notes made on the drawings to identify the symbology behind the works. Therefore, these are not mindless doodles - they are narratives and cultural artefacts.
On a different note, it feels strangely relieving to learn that at least one mission in Australia had some concern in maintaining Indigenous customs and traditions. Whilst this by no means forgives the atrocities committed by white Australians in attempting to abolish "Aboriginality" throughout the majority of the country, it does reassure that there were some people at the time who respected the importance of cultural preservation.
[Source: National Library of Australia]
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