Collection deepens knowledge and understanding

Bachelor of Arts lecturer, Faye Rosas Blanch uses artworks and objects from the Flinders University Museum of Art (FUMA) collection to explore themes of race and representation with her Indigenous Studies students.

The Murri woman of Yidniji/Mbarbarm descent says she "uses the collection to unlock key concepts of sovereignty, race and representation, wellbeing, ethics of care, health, refusal, relationality and intimacy."

“We spend three minutes looking at an artwork or object, and then I invite the students to respond to it and talk about it. The students have to unpack it for themselves,” says Faye.

“We’re not surface scratching—it’s a digging, digging deep. We want the students to arrive at a deeper understanding, because we are tired of just talking about ‘cultural awareness.’ We want students to be able to really see and name those key concepts in the artworks.”

Students are also able to use objects in their presentations. Faye explains, “We say, pick an artwork and think about what it means for you, extend on that in your essay or connect it with a film—give back what you know.”

Faye says this creative approach to teaching has a profound impact for her students.

Bachelor of Social Work student, Molly Turnbull, speaking about a painting created by her aunt, Ngarrindjeri artist and activist, Sandra Saunders, with Doctor of Medicine students, Athena Singh and Victoria Tang.

^{Artwork: Sandra Saunders, Sorry, 2008, synthetic polymer paint and paper on canvas, 100 x 100 cm, © the artist, Collection of Flinders University Museum of Art 4602}