Herring Island > Sculptures >
Tanderrum



Aboriginal culture emphasises the land, water and sky as central to the spirit of the Australian landscape and part of the living spiritual domain. Together Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander artist Ellen José and Joy Murphy, Wurundjeri Tribal Elder, have imagined a vision for the creation of flight. Tanderrum (coming together) brings together concepts of pride, culture and spirit, and symbolises the coming together of the Kulin nation as one people.

Constructed of Mt. William greenstone, Castlemaine slate, and redbox (the wood). The greenstone was used for axe-heads by Aboriginals prior to the arrival of Europeans in Australia. The axe-heads were traded between Aboriginal groups in South Eastern Australia. The sculpture was renovated in January 2008.