Rich visual parallels between Indigenous artworks and microscopic natural structures hidden in the world around us reveal unexpected and intriguing similarities that can deepen our respect for our country and its stories.
The microscopic images (known as micrographs) were captured on transmission electron microscopes, which create enlarged projections of a thin, sample slice and reveal a flat, top-down image, similar to many of the artworks. Another similarity comes from the natural forms and patterns found at the microscopic, landscape and cosmic scale.
In Indigenous cultures, stories shared and held in paintings record how the land and creatures were created, how they function together and how people relate to them.
Birnoo country (artist Gordon Barney) and white ochre
The overlapping plates of the ochre mineral are reminiscent of the rows of hills in Gordon’s country.
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Witchetty grub dreaming (artist Jennifer Napaljarri Lewis) and moth sperm
Jennifer’s painting shows women collecting witchetty grubs. These can be eaten at all stages of their life cycles. Without the structures shown in the micrograph, sperm wouldn’t function and moths’ life cycle would be broken.
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Brush-tail possum dreaming (artist Judith Nungarrayi Martin) and ribosomes
The dark dots in the micrograph are ribosomes. These tiny molecular machines are responsible for producing the vast array of different proteins that make up the bodies of all living things, including possums and people.
Sandhills dreaming (artist Vanessa Nampijinpa Brown) and atoms in quartz
The crystal structure revealed in the micrograph is fundamental to the sand making up the sandhills that Vanessa paints in her story.
Gathering bush tucker (artist Kerry Madawyn McCarthy) and gum leaf cells
The cells in this gum leaf are reminiscent of the rocks and coastal landscape of Kerry’s painting. Her people move through the landscape to collect food just as carbon dioxide moves through the leaf spaces to cells, where it is converted to food for the plant.
Dry River bed (artist Kurun Warun) and blood flow in a fish eye
The red areas of Kurun’s painting indicate the life blood that still survives in the dry river bed. The parallel to the red blood cells in the fish eye are obvious.
Skin (artist Joshua Bonson) and collagen fibrils
.Joshua paints crocodile skin as a celebration of his totem, the saltwater crocodile. He also sees his paintings as a representation of landscape. Collagen is the fundamental protein found in skin and gives it its strength and toughness. This is a beautiful connection at both the physical and philosophical levels.
Water dreaming (artist Lola Brown) and river red gum and water transport vessel
.The story in Lola’s Water Dreaming painting involves two river red gum trees. River red gums line inland water courses and are essential to Aboriginal life. The vessels that transport water up through the plants have thickened rings for support. This later becomes the wood of the trees.
(Source: theconversation.com)
Detail from Witchetty Grub Dreaming, Jennifer Napaljarri Lewis, Warlukurlangu Artists of Yuendumu. Courtesy of the artist
Detail from Witchetty Grub Dreaming, Jennifer Napaljarri Lewis, Warlukurlangu Artists of Yuendumu. Courtesy of the artist
