Cosmic echoes around the globe 

Art and astronomy are connecting science and culture between Australia and South Africa in the new art exhibition Cosmic Echoes, featuring artworks showcasing connection to land and sky. 

The international SKA Observatory (SKAO) worked with Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, the Wajarri Yamaji and the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory to feature art and stories from the cultures of both SKA telescope sites.

The Wajarri Yamaji People are Traditional Owners and Native Title Holders of Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara, CSIRO’s Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory, home of the SKAO’s SKA-Low telescope. 

They have been observing the sky, telling stories and creating art from their knowledge for thousands of years. 

Many of the artworks in Cosmic Echoes feature the Pleiades cluster of stars, known as the Seven Sisters across many cultures. The uniquely Indigenous-Australian Emu in the Sky also appears in many of the Wajarri artworks. 

Building such ethical, meaningful and respectful collaborations with First Nations peoples will be a focus of the International Conference on Research Infrastructures when it begins next Tuesday, the 3^rd of December. Maori, Lakota, Sami, and Aboriginal Australians will lead discussions on Indigenous engagement in research infrastructure projects.

Find out more: https://www.csiro.au/en/news/All/Articles/2024/November/cosmic-echoes

About “The First Astronomers”

Wajarri mother and daughter artist team Leean Kelly-Pedersen and Dawn Hamlett created the large piece shown above for Cosmic Echoes. It represents their ancestors’ travel across Country at night.

“Our ancestors travelled this land for many years in Australia, living off the land and following the seasons in search of food and water in their tribal family groups. All men carried out cultural ceremonies from their tribal grounds. They would attend meetings on a special ground where they would gather with other tribes.”

“Travelling across our Country was always at night. Our ancestors found a way to travel to their destination by studying the night sky and using the stars as a compass to guide their way, with the full Moon for light. This painting represents our ancestors’ travel method, including the Milky Way which was also important to them. It guided the way and they also followed the movement of the emu, which can be seen in the Milky Way, to know when it was the egg-laying season. The Nyarluwarri (Seven Sisters, Pleiades) can be seen on the right. The Morning Star can be seen at the bottom, to the left is the Southern Cross and the large circle at the top is the full Moon with the Evening Star next to it. The pink dots represent the wildflower seasons and also the aurora in the sky. The Southern Cross, Morning and Evening stars are the main features used as a compass.”