Return of the trees | State Library of New South Wales

Return of the trees

Museums, galleries and other collectors are now returning many Aboriginal artefacts to their original communities. Repatriation is an important step in healing a community’s fractured spiritual connection to their land. Recently, Museum Victoria handed back a carved tree from its collection to the Baradine community.

Carved trees are making another kind of comeback today. Artists from all over New South Wales are not only looking to carved trees as inspiration for all sorts of artwork but some are also reviving the practice of tree-carving. In 2011, Aboriginal artist and elder Vic Simms, on behalf of the Bidjigal people, carved a tree in the Botanic Gardens, Sydney.

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