'Tjirbruke Gateway' Sturt, SA 1997

Tjirbruke Gateway is an entrance to the Kaurna Living Culture Centre. It tells a layered story of 1) the Creation Being Tjirbruke 2) the changes brought about by colonization and 3) reconciliation, between people, their cultures and the land. For visitors to the Centre, The Tjirbruke Gateway acts as a filter and learning process. People enter the area by walking through the tree trunks and across the ‘pathways of knowledge’. They are surrounded by elements of the Tjirbruke story in preparation for learning more about Kaurna culture. The artwork was opened by the (then) Governor General Sir William Deane and (Elder) Dr Lowitja O’Donaghue AC, CBE, DSG in 1997, the Year of Reconciliation. Margaret Worth collaborated with Kaurna artist Sherry Rankine, artist Gavin Malone and Kaurna senior Georgina Williams.

Tjirbruke Gateway: Opening Ceremony
His Excellency Sir William Deane opening the 'Tjirbruke Gateway' SA.
Tjirbruke Gateway: Dr. Lowitja O’Donaghue AC, CBE, DSG
'Tjirbruke Gateway', opening ceremony, Dr. Lowitja O'Donaghue AC, CBE, DSG
Tjirbruke Gateway: Kaurna Ceremony of purification and welcome.
'Tjirbruke Gateway' Kaurna Ceremony of purification and welcome.
Tjilbruke Gateway
'Tjirbruke Gateway: Pathway of Knowledge'
stringy bark trunks, emu feathers, coloured sands, stainless steel, resins. Photo Ashley Starkey
Tjirbruke Gateway: The children’s pathway to reclaiming their cultural inheritance.
'Tjirbruke Gateway' The children's pathway to reclaiming their cultural inheritance.
Stringy bark trunks, coloured sands.
Tjirbruke Gateway: The Kaurna shield, symbol of territory
'Tjirbruke Gateway' The Kaurna shield, symbol of territory
Tjirbruke Gateway: Progress during installation.
'Tjirbruke Gateway' installation progress.
Tjirbruke Gateway: Installation view
'Tjirbruke Gateway' Installation view
500cm (H) x 5000cm (W) x 5000cm (D)
Stringy bark trunks, emu feathers, coloured sands, stainless steel, resins.
Tjirbruke Gateway: The artist team: Margaret Worth, Gavin Malone [left] and Sherry Rankine [right].
'Tjirbruke Gateway' The artist team: Margaret Worth, Gavin Malone [left] and Sherry Rankine [right].