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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

Cultural Evolution, n.d.

Wayne Quilliam

inkjet print on paper
Cultural Evolution, n.d.

Wayne Quilliam took this photograph at the You Yangs in Victoria, where dancers from across the state gathered to prepare the children for their Naming Ceremony. ‘In its purest essence the evolution of culture connects us to Country, it inhales and exhales with us, has a heartbeat, and sings songs for all to hear,’ says Quilliam. ‘Listening to the Elders share the stories with the young ones as they prepare ochre for ceremony provides connection to a new entity of self, time, place and cultural consciousness.’

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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