Drawing on concepts of mapping, conflict and colonialism, The Forgotten Wars – Series II presents black and white photographs by Indigenous Australian artist James Tylor, overlaid with detailed illustrations by Non-Indigenous Australian artist, Laura Wills.

The collaborative series investigates The Black Line, the largest force ever assembled against Aboriginal people in Australia during the Tasmania War (also known as the Black War) from 1828 to 1832.

This war was part of the Australian Wars (Frontier Wars 1788 to 1920) where hundreds of thousands of Indigenous Australians lost their lives defending their country, while others were removed to asylums, missions or reserves. The wars were documented by the invading British Empire at the time, but in Australia they were not written about for another 100 years.

‘It’s like the Australian Wars have been forgotten in time until now, when inconvenient histories have started to be addressed,’ says James Tylor whose heritage includes Kaurna, Maori and European cultures.

‘The Forgotten Wars series of artworks attempt to highlight the brutal British military strategies used in the Australian Wars against the Indigenous First Nations people of Australia - something that most Australians are still not aware of today,’ says James.

Laura first heard of the Tasmanian War last year when researching the project. ‘James showed me the war maps in the parliamentary papers at the State Library - they were overwhelmingly disturbing, but free and accessible for all to see.’

The Flinders University Museum of Art is calling for donations so that it can purchase the series of ten artworks for its nationally significant collection. The works will create an important starting point for Flinders students, staff and its community to discuss colonial conflict and to ‘remember’ our history.

‘To understand who we are today we must understand where we came from. There is a lot of history Australians don't know - it's important to hear it, acknowledge, grieve and move forward together,’ says Laura.

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