Visual Culture - Garden of Australian Dreams

In the above photograph, the feature that I likes the most at the Australian National Museum, in the Garden of Australian Dreams was the wall feature that is red, white, yellow and black that almost resembles dominoes.

What is the feature?

The feature is a wall feature that has been placed in the garden to represent the types of people within Australia. The black pieces represent Indigenous cultures such as the Aboriginal people of Australia, the white pieces represent the white people of Australia and the yellow and red pieces represent the immigrants into Australia such as the Chinese.

The feature explains how the population of Australia through it's people has changed. It shows the progression of immigration, starting with Indigenous Australians the first people in this country.

Why does it appeal to you?

This wall feature appeared to me as it was symbolic of Australian people but as the same time has a modern and contemporary feel about it. Not only do the shapes represent people, but the colours that have been used to represent the people are also the colours featured in the Aboriginal flag. I think that it is very important to bring the cultural diversity of Australia into the garden the way in which this piece has.

What does it reference?

I think the main reference for this piece in the Australian Garden of Dreams would be the Aboriginal flag. This piece exemplifies the colours of our Indigenous flag.

Why did Richard Weller include it in the GOAD at the National Museum of Australia?

I think that Richard Weller has included this piece at the National Museum of Australia as the reference to the Aboriginal flag has some great significance to this country. The piece not only reflects the first inhabitants in Australia, but also recognises the different people that have immigrated to Australia, with the changing colours of the 'domino like' shapes.

Why is GOAD considered 'Postmodern' landscape architecture?

I would say that the GOAD is considered 'postmodern' landscape architecture as it is a space that has multiple ideas overlapping and layering to present Australian history to it's viewers. It is diverse and has multiple recognised ideas from history, allowing us to examine identity, which is characteristic of 'postmodern' design.