MTalks—BLAKitecture: Memorialisation

We live in cities and towns that reflect the denial of Indigenous histories and perspectives, but momentum around this issue is building. What role can design play in addressing the lack of memorials and visibility to the memories and legacy of the frontier wars in Australia? What are the challenges around this for both non-Indigenous and Indigenous designers? MPavilion’s second annual BLAKitecture forum brought together Indigenous built environment practitioners on the Yaluk-ut Weelam land of the Boon Wurrung people. The forum aimed to centralise Indigenous voices in conversations about architecture, the representation of histories, the present state and the future of our built environments. BLAKitecture was curated by MPavilion’s program consultant Sarah Lynn Rees. Image: Standing by Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyheenner (2016) Brook Andrew & Trent Walter Bluestone, aluminium, steel, archival paper, Agfa P55 photo plates on aluminium Commissioned by the City of Melbourne, 2016 City of Melbourne Art and Heritage Collection This event was kindly sponsored by RMIT Architecture.