Title: Marramarra: Indigenous Artists Making History Visible

A collaboration by Brook Garru Andrew and Jessica Neath

Reviewer: Karen Seeneevassen 

Audience:  Secondary

This beautifully presented book was a pleasure to review. The interesting layout and form presents the content in an interesting as well as accessible way. The international approach links First Nations Peoples and Cultures in a global context.

The text encompasses culture in a myriad of forms including; language, literature, essays, poetry, photography, visual art and installations. It also includes remembrances, rather than memoir, which is an engaging contextualisation of the art forms. Transcripts of conversations support these reminiscences. These important stories showcase the significant activists and artists who advocate for the need to understand the place of First Nations Voices. A constant theme of these stories is sovereignty in Art.

Historical incidents, including Australia’s Frontier Wars, are referenced, along with other important stories internationally. These historical references seek to focus on what has been lost, but they also consider what may come. The underlying essence of the book is a hope for cultural revitalisation. This is an invaluable resource for any library collection, covering subjects which include; art, literature, history, geography and most importantly, culture. I highly recommend it.