Journal | Lagoonscapes
Monographic journal issue | 3 | 2 | 2023
Research Article | The Vārchive Revolution: The Imperative for Indigenous Truth-Telling and Redefining Heritage Preservation
The Vārchive Revolution: The Imperative for Indigenous Truth-Telling and Redefining Heritage Preservation
Abstract
The following article discusses Paradise Camp by Samoan-Japanese artist Yuki Kihara, curated by Professor Natalie King which is on exhibition at The Powerhouse, Sydney, Australia throughout 2023. Authors delve into the significance of Paradise Camp as a vital and timely act of truth-telling. They highlight Kihara’s concept and realisation of what she has coined the Vārchive as a means to approaching First Nations archival materials. They explore the Vārchive as both artwork and archival practice which could catalyse a transformative shift within the heritage sector highlighting the imperative for Indigenous interventions within colonial collections. Reflecting on the Vārchive emphasises the need to redefine heritage, to encompass and consider Indigenous communities and landscapes as animate archives and memory holders which are increasingly threatened by climate change.
Submitted: Sept. 28, 2023 | Accepted: Oct. 25, 2023 | Published Dec. 20, 2023 | Language: en
Keywords Paul Gaugin • Samoa • First Nations • Museums • Decolonisation • Indigenous • Climate action • Faʻafafine • Archives • Gender Studies • Climate Change
Copyright © 2023 Nathan Mudyi Sentance, Madeline Poll, Tammi Gissell. This is an open-access work distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction is permitted, provided that the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. The license allows for commercial use. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
Permalink http://doi.org/10.30687/LGSP/2785-2709/2023/02/005
