Minister for the Arts and Community Events, Gordon Ramsay says the project will explore themes of transcultural mourning, Indigenous and non-Indigenous remembrance practices and the complexities of Indigenous National Service in a post-colonial paradigm.

Dean, who was born and raised on Ngunnawal country, but with ancestral roots within the Worimi Nation, will fly to Wellington in April for the project. 

“Like many Australians, I have an ancestor who lost their life on the 25th April, 1915, at Gallipoli,” Dean says.

“As an artist I am interested in how one navigates the cultural space of being both proud to be part of the Anzac narrative, but not necessarily supportive of war, especially as it has developed throughout the 20th century. 

“I am particularly interested in the intersections of history where one narrative is championed, whilst another is omitted, particularly in relation to our Indigenous history.

“By examining trans-cultural mourning my hope is to be able to provide a foundation for deeper cultural empathy toward those who have suffered, and are suffering, from the effects of the current global war situations.”

More information at arts.act.gov.au