Created by: Carol McGregor From: Brisbane, QLD, Australia

Acknowledging Place is a space generated for physical reflection for you to sit under and consider an Aboriginal perspective of caring for Country.

The once prolific Cottonwood Tree or native hibiscus – Hibiscus tiliaceus was an important resource for Traditional Custodians of the Greater South-East Queensland region. Specifically, the inner bark of the tree provided fibre for making string for nets and dilly bags; the leaves and flowers were used for medicinal purposes and the young shoots and roots were eaten.

As an Aboriginal artist, acknowledging the Traditional Custodians and the Country I walk on is always present. Placing large versions of the Cotton Tree leaves in the colours of the Aboriginal flag in situ, aims to make the audience ponder what was here. To not only acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land they are walking on, but also think about their biocultural knowledges and in turn the effects colonisation had on our environment with introduced species and European land management practices.

During Curiocity Brisbane 2022 the work was activated as a gathering place for the sharing and recognising of an alternate knowledge system with yarning circles, storytelling and workshops.

About the Creator

Artist: Carol McGregor (with Jody Rallah for activation workshops)

Meanjin based artist Carol McGregor is of Wadawurrung (Kulin Nation) and Scottish descent and is a possum skin cloak maker, painter, printmaker and sculptor.

For more information: carolmcgregor.com.au