Delhi's historic Humayun's Tomb is set to host a remarkable cultural exchange as it prepares to showcase one of Australia's most ancient indigenous stories. The epic tale of the Seven Sisters, a foundational narrative of Aboriginal Australian culture, will be presented through a groundbreaking exhibition titled 'Songlines: Tracking the Seven Sisters' from November 22 to March 1.
A Journey Through Ancient Australian Lore
This extraordinary exhibition brings to India the centuries-old songline that traces the journey of seven sisters fleeing across vast Australian deserts, pursued by a shape-shifting sorcerer. Organized by The National Museum of Australia in partnership with the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), the showcase represents a significant cultural bridge between two ancient civilizations.
Visitors will encounter nearly 300 paintings and objects alongside traditional song, dance, photography and multimedia presentations. The exhibition carefully highlights five distinct sections of indigenous western and central desert songlines, offering a comprehensive understanding of this enduring cultural narrative.
Immersive Technology Meets Ancient Tradition
Among the exhibition's standout features is a high-resolution immersive travelling DomeLab featuring a seven-meter-wide domed ceiling. Within this innovative space, visitors will experience rock art from the remote Cave Hill site in South Australia, animated artworks, and celestial representations of the Orion constellation and Pleiades star cluster.
The exhibition represents seven years of collaborative work with indigenous communities and will guide visitors through a carefully curated path. Through this journey, attendees will traverse three indigenous Australian lands: the APY (Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara) people's central deserts, the Ngaanyatjarra people's western territories, and the Martu people's north-western homelands.
Celebrating World's Oldest Living Culture
National Museum of Australia director Katherine McMahon emphasized the exhibition's significance, stating that 'First Nations Australians have sustained the world's oldest living culture for more than 65,000 years'. She described the showcase as a powerful example of the museum's decades-long collaboration with Indigenous communities.
This marks the exhibition's fifth international destination since its 2017 debut in Canberra, following successful tours to the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Finland. Kiran Nadar, Founder and Chairperson of KNMA, highlighted how the exhibition 'merges ancient storytelling traditions with cutting-edge technology' to create an experience that transcends geography and time.
The collaboration aims to deepen understanding of shared human heritage while celebrating the timeless wisdom of indigenous communities and their profound connection to the land. For Delhi residents and visitors, this represents a unique opportunity to engage with one of the world's oldest continuous cultural traditions within the majestic setting of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
