Aboriginal and Torres Strait peoples are advised that this document mentions names of deceased people.
Curator of Collections Paul R. Davis will discuss two works by Kunmanara (Mumu Mike) Williams (1952–2019) included in the exhibition Mapa Wiya (Your Map’s Not Needed): Australian Aboriginal Art from the Fondation Opale. Williams’ Postbag Painting, 2017, and Mapa Wiya (We Don’t Need a Map), 2017—from which the exhibition title is taken—address Aboriginal peoples’ struggle for civil rights and control of their Country. Both are examples of the artist’s self-proclaimed “land rights paintings,” in which he painted and drew on official Australian maps and mailbags, defying government prohibitions of misuse, and declaring indigenous knowledge of land and Country.
The Menil’s Curator Talks are discussions about a single work of art, or group of works, on view in the museum’s galleries. These programs are free and open to the public. Further information regarding accessibility and parking can be found here.
