Nomad Two Worlds

Created by world renowned photographer Russell James, Nomad Two Worlds is a collaborative art project with indigenous artists. In the last decade it has evolved from one James attempt to understand the troubling cultural divide he witnessed growing up in Australia to what it is today, a powerful expression of partnership and reconciliation in action through art, music and film that has become a global example of true collaboration across  deep divides.

From its humble beginnings as an art exhibition in New York in 1999 Nomad Two Worlds endured the years leading up to to global event known in the political narrative simply as "The Apology", the 2008 public apology made to Indigenous Australians by the then Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd.

In celebration of this historic event people from the Australian Indigenous community joined forces with the likes of will i am, Hugh Jackman,  Donna Karan and many others to create and present the first Nomad Two Worlds Collaborative Art Opening in New York City in 2009 that was a blend of art, music, film, education and community outreach that received extraordinary global media attention as a global example of reconciliation in action.

Developing Nomad two Worlds has involved a decade of groundwork, including travel to remote regions of North Western Australia with  senior Indigenous custodians who provided access to sites of great cultural significance to the aboriginal people.  Burial grounds, gorges, stunning coastlines and desert locations, often restricted and secret, were allowed to be photographed and filmed by  James in the spirit of meaningful reconciliation.

The photographs were  reproduced as giant art canvases for indigenous artists such as Clifton Bieundurry  and others who then painted "story" into the images; legends and concepts that relate directly to the images on the photographic canvases. The result, an unprecedented artistic collaboration of hand embellished art photographs that form the heart of Nomad Two Worlds installation.  The ABC Documentary released in 2011 'Becoming Jangala' is a detailed look back at the creation of Nomad Two Worlds and the special bond between Bieundurry and James and can be viewed on this site.

A number of extraordinary people have been involved in  involved in bringing the Nomad Two Worlds Project to life:

SPONSORS AND FRIENDS OF NOMAD TWO WORLDS TO DATE INCLUDE:  Sir Richard Branson, V Australia, Virgin Blue,  Virgin Unite, Mal James, Deborra-Lee Jackman, Hugh Jackman, will.i.am and the Black Eyed Peas, Donna Karan, Urban Zen Foundation, Koorie Heritage Trust, Prof. Fiona Stanley and the Institute For Child Health Research, Heidi Klum, Adriana Lima, The Government of Western Australia, the Department of Reconciliation and Repatriation, Reconciliation Australia, The Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation, Balance Water,  Metro gallery Australia. Lace Gallery (co-funded by Getty Museum), Lisa Fox, The National Gallery of Victoria, ROAR, Adam Levin, Joyce Lanigan and The Pratt Foundation.

Special thanks also to the many who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to bring Nomad Two Worlds to life including  Michael Jurkovac, Sheri Howell, Ali Franco, Paul Boon,  Denice Shilinglaw, Donna Bieundurry, Preya McMahon  Louise Imeson ,  Broc Munro and the Zing PR team, Justin Woo / Woo Studios, Gerard Vaughan and the NGV, Megan Keep, Palma Driscoll, Adam Franzino, Fiona Gosschalk, Tim O'Connor, Bianca Osadczuk, Jason Mullen, Peter Perfrement,  Peter Bauld, Trevor Owsley, Ella Wright, Iain Reed, music producer Mark Vieha, Bruce Ashley and Company X, Gemma Tognini, Amber Sheldon and GT Media.

We would also like to thank Sony/BMG and Sony Music Publishing Australia and Midnight Oil for the loan of "Beds Are Burning" by Midnight Oil.

WARNING REGARDING THE CONTENTS OF THIS WEBSITE:

Nomad Two Worlds acknowledges and respects the tradition and importance of warning the viewer/visitor of the inclusion of any words, terms or materials that may be culturally sensitive to members of the Indigenous community. Please be warned that our website may contain:

LANGUAGE that may be culturally sensitive, including words and descriptions which might not normally be used in certain public or community situations, and might be in any way deemed inappropriate, and

IMAGES OF DECEASED INDIGENOUS PERSONS in photographs and film, and their voices in audio recordings, and we deeply apologize for any sadness or distress that any use of, or naming of, these individuals may cause to any of our viewers/visitors, or offense they may cause against any deeply held Indigenous prohibitions.