East Coast Encounter is a multi-arts initiative involving Australian Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists, writers and songwriters to re-imagine the encounter by Lt James Cook and his crew with Aboriginal people in 1770.

Cook’s voyage along the Australian east coast has become central to national historical narratives. The exhibition of paintings, photographs, videos and three dimensional works re-envisages this seminal journey by imaginatively exploring moments of contact between two worldviews during these encounters.

Artists include: Bianca Beetson, Michael Cook, Neil Healy, Peter Hudson, Adam Hill, Garth Lena, Gail Mabo, Euan MacLeod, Arone Meeks, Reg Mombassa, Gordon Syron, Ann Thomson, Judy Watson and performers/writers Gemma Cronin, Shane Howard and Neil Murray.

This project has been developed by the University of the Sunshine Coast and assisted by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland and the Australian Government through the Ministry for the Arts ‘Visions of Australia program’.

The exhibition is part of the Australian National Maritime Museum collection.

Related events

Bianca Beetson in conversation
6.30pm Wednesday 8 March

Lunchtime floor talk
12.15pm Thursday 23 March

IMAGE 
Michael COOK Undiscovered 4 (detail) 2010. Inkjet print on Hahnemuhle paper, ed. 3/8. Image © Michael Cook, courtesy of Andrew Baker Art Dealer & Dianne Tanzer Gallery + Projects.