The subject of this work includes images of deceased people that may be offensive to Indigenous Australians.
Undercurrent 2020 was commissioned by the Monash Gallery of Art (MGA) for the exhibition ‘Portrait of Monash: the ties that bind’ for the MGA’s 30th anniversary, curated by Anouska Phizacklea, MGA Director.
Clancy set about exploring sites of significance within Country of Baluk willam of the Woi wurrung and the Nguruk willam of the Boon wurrung. She soon realised that significant sites located in the area now known as the City of Monash, where MGA is situated, have been significantly disturbed through intensive invasion. She found a map on page 37 in 'The Land of the Kulin' by Gary Presland (1985) depicting the cultural and environmental significance of the area prior to settlement. A hand-drawn line meandering through the map indicates the Dandenong Creek. Today Dandenong creek follows the same trajectory as it did prior to settlement. The creek begins in the Dandenong Ranges, traverses through the City of Monash and runs into what was Carrum Swamp, which has now been drained. Creeks and waterways were significant, and still are, to the Woi wurrung and Boon Wurrung peoples as they traversed their estate. In the photographs from the series Undercurrent Clancy has explored sites along the Dandenong Creek.
Clancy acknowledges the City of Monash is within Country of Baluk willam of the Woi wurrung and the Nguruk willam of the Boon wurrung.
The artist would like to thank Dr Gary Presland, School of Geography, The University of Melbourne for advice and provision of information regarding Indigenous culture and history in the region of the City of Monash, in respect of the project Portrait of Monash: the ties that bind and Dr Les Walkling for his expertise and support on the project.
