Creative in Residence Application – NT Archives Service

I am currently in the process of creating concept art and animations for an application to Arts NT for a Creative Residency at the Northern Territory Archives Service.

My aim will be to use archival resources from NTAS to tell the stories of three historical characters who spent time in the infamous Fannie Bay Gaol. My animations will explore the social, geographical, political, economic and moral fabric of the town of Darwin in the 19th and early 20th Centuries.

I recently went into the Archives for the first time where I learnt how to search the collections. I have to say it felt a bit like Christmas when the staff would bring out a box full of original photographs or oral histories! There is a magic moment when you reach inside and pull out amazing images of little moments frozen in time!

Here are some examples of my concept art so far. (They are still a bit rough). These animations show how I would ‘bring to life’ the photos from the archives to help tell the stories of Nemarluk, Ah Kim and Rodney Spencer. I would also aim to use excerpts from oral history archives and a voice over narrative, music and soundscape to tell these fascinating tales.

 

My artistic process for this style of animation was initially developed when I worked as the animator and designer for the ABC documentary Blown Away, The Story of Cyclone Tracy. I used archival photographs, film footage and oral histories to re-imagine what it was like to live through the storm. I loved developing this process and I’ve been looking forward to creating a new project where I can work with historical archives again. Here are some examples below from Blown Away.

For more examples from Blown Away go to https://hunib.com/portfolio/blown-away-2/