Artlink Magazine Mining - gouging the country Back Issue

Co-editors Stephanie Britton and Prof Pat Hoffie:
The world is hungry for minerals and fuel. The land and its value in spiritual as well as economic terms has led to some of the most debated legislation of contemporary times including Australian Aboriginal ownership and land rights, and to scrutiny of questions of the right to exploit or to act as custodian of land. Initially defined as "Terra Nullius" this country is now recognised as an ancient, mineral-rich continent of hotly contested territories. While Australian art has a long history of artists depicting mining operations, the subject comes with new baggage today at a turning point for the community in relation to climate change. This issue digs deep into the seen and unseen impact of big mining and its greed for the rapid and ruthless exploitation of fossil fuels. Artists, artists alliances and arts writers join with environmentalists to raise consciousness about the dangers of mining operations on farmlands, rivers, in remote areas, deserts, and coastal areas, as well as in the depth of the oceans. * Ken Mulvaney writes on the ancient rock art being damaged by proximity to mining operations on the Burrup Peninsula. * The tension around funding for arts, science and community enterprise from mining companies which commonly exploit the prestige of arts projects to varnish their image. Arts patronage can be used as a wedge to buy off the potential community opposition and the custodial burden is getting heavier for Indigenous land holders in many regions. * During the mining boom has support to the arts from mining companies been minimal relative to their profits? Artists include Fiona Hall, Cai Quo-Qiang, Craig Walsh, Jan Senbergs, John Gollings, Ah Xian, and Raymond Arnold. Writers include Daniel Thomas, Sam Cook, David Hansen, Michael Taussig, Judith Blackall, and Jane Deeth. * 3 important long-form texts are available exclusively online by David Watson, Barry Craig, and Ainslie Murray et al.