The Modern Midden is based on my artworks of our Shell Midden sites along the Kabi Kabi Coast – ancient remnants of shells left by our Ancestors that represent community, hunting and gathering practices, caring for Country and stewardship.
These midden piles were studied by scientists not only to determine their age, each layer older than the last, laid over thousands of generations, but to understand diet and how items were kept and preserved within the middens, like a time capsule.
I wanted to bring this into a contemporary context and invite community members in for discussions about the Caloundra area – their experience of living there, their knowledge of middens – then ask them to contribute an item to the pile that they either wished to discard, let go of, or something significant that added to the pile, representing time here and now, with the thought of future generations studying what we considered important in this moment.
Over three weeks this Modern Midden grew with many beautiful items, and through the conversations it became clear each layer carried story and meaning. During that time, I had the pleasure of welcoming 26 contributors – some curious about the project, others simply wanting to admire the pile and hear the stories behind what had been placed there.
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Photos: Cooper Brady
