MCA Collection: Jonathan Jones, naa (to see or look)
Every day, 9am to 5pm Thursday 11 July to Sunday 8 September
Wed–Mon 10am–5pm Closed Tuesdays & 25 December
The arrangement of fluorescent tubes in Jonathan Jones’ naa (to see or look) evokes the stars in the night sky above Gadigal Country, Sydney.
The installation draws on the life of Lieutenant William Dawes (1762–1836), a First Fleet astronomer who built an observatory at Tarra/Dawes Point in Warrane/Sydney Cove. Dawes’ meticulous records reveal his deep engagement with the Aboriginal people of the Eora Nation. They capture conversations with several Eora people, including Patyegarang, a young woman who was vital in helping Dawes understand and document the local language.
Free to visit until 8 September 2024
Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, purchased with funds provided by the MCA Foundation, 2015.