Making revisions

European settlers often claimed lands they occupied by arguing these territories were empty, a belief known as terra nullius, which is a Latin term meaning 'land belonging to no one'. This doctrine was used to justify British control over Australia, despite the fact that Aboriginal peoples had lived there for over 65,000 years. The concept ignored the deep cultural and spiritual connections Indigenous communities had with the land, leading to the severing of these ties. Central Australia, where this documentary takes place, was no exception to this historical injustice.

British artist Patrick Waterhouse worked with the Warlukurlangu art centre in Australia to create a collaborative project with Warlpiri artists from the communities of Yuendumu and Nyirripi. Over several years, they revisited colonial documents and maps, inviting the artists to respond to these materials through their own visual languages. This process involved conversations about the colonial past and resulted in new artworks where Indigenous knowledge and art intersected with the colonial cartography, blending different perspectives on the land.

The artists transformed official colonial documents and maps by overlaying them with their own artistic interpretations. This intervention was not just about altering the appearance of these materials but also about reclaiming the narrative of the land. The resulting works are striking visual pieces that challenge the colonial view of Australia as an empty land, instead highlighting the enduring presence and cultural significance of Aboriginal peoples. The film documents this creative process and the dialogues it sparked among the artists.

For Aboriginal communities like the Warlpiri, the land holds profound cultural and spiritual importance. The project aimed to restore a sense of connection to the land by allowing artists to express their own stories and knowledge through their art. By engaging with colonial documents, the artists were able to assert their presence and challenge the historical erasure imposed by settlers. The collaboration between Waterhouse and the Warlukurlangu art centre demonstrates how art can serve as a tool for cultural reclamation and historical revision.