The Awakening Histories exhibit at PICA explores the deep and enduring connection between First Nations Peoples across the north of this continent (now known as Australia) and the Makassan seafarers of South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Re-positioning Australia’s pre-colonial international relations from a global south perspective, this powerful exhibition reflects on the legacies of these early intercultural connections that were forged through reciprocity, respect and trade.

Awakening Histories unsettles the temporal, geographic and cultural borders that have shaped the national imaginary of Australia, offering a counter-narrative to Eurocentric histories of discovery.

Developed by a curatorium of researchers and curators based in Australia and Indonesia, it brings together new artists’ commissions and key works from major collections, foregrounding the storytelling of art and artists and following trade routes and cultural exchange to recast history.