Objects mediating relationships in changing contexts. The Firth Collection from Tikopia, Solomon Islands

Abstract

Prologue

A day at the museum. A play in 3 acts

Act One: Discussing the exhibition.

Museum Worker: So, tell me more about your exhibition proposal

Guest Curator: As a gay Aboriginal artist, I'm interested in Aboriginality and homosexuality. Museum Worker. How are you thinking of using the collections in this project?

Guest Curator: I've seen the collections and I think there are some really fantastic artworks here. I've got a list of the ones I want to use. Museum Worker: Yes, I have the list. I sent a copy to the Aboriginal Heritage Officer; who has come along today. He always works on projects concerning the Aboriginal collections. You do realize that many of the items you're interested in don't have information with them. We generally don't display objects with no information, unless this is a particular focus of your exhibition? Guest Curator: No, not particularly. I liked the look of those objects, but I can choose others.

Aboriginal Museum Worker: I see that you have a ''phallic looking club" on this

list. As an Aboriginal person, I have spent many years visiting Aboriginal communities in this state. This object will present a problem. We will have to seek permission to use it. Guest Curator: But I am Aboriginal And I'm an artist.

Act 2. Repatriation requests.

Museum Worker: I had two repatriation requests this week. The first from the great- grandson of a European missionary, who collected temple objects from India at the turn of the century. He thinks that his great-grandfather did the wrong thing, and feels responsible. He wants the objects to go back to India. The second was from a business man wanting to set up operations in an outback town. He feels his business plans will go more smoothly if he facilitates the return of an item to the Aboriginal people of the area. He rang to find out our repatriation procedure.

Act 3. Media Opportunity

Media Officer. They want to do something on museum collections, particularly the primitive stuff. Can you do an interview? Museum Worker: What exactly are they interested in?

Media Officer: Oh anything really it's just a fill in case there's no news. They're keen for a photo. How about that place you keep all the weapons and spears. Can you pose as if you were about to throw one?

Museum Worker: Media Officer: Museum Worker:

No.

This is a great publicity opportunity. Only if they report on preservation of cultural heritage, the international

standard of our storage facilities, the number of research and public inquiries and visitors we handle, and they don't use the words primitive, treasures, buried, forgotten, dusty or basements. • Media Officer: Ok. By the way, can someone show 20 overseas tourists the Aboriginal galleries and collections. We want to develop a cultural tourism program, in conjunction with eco-tours run by other departments.

Newspaper head line: "Hidden artefacts revealed for first time"