The Canberra exhibition provides art and history lovers with a fresh insight of the heritage-listed ‘Bundian Way’: a 380-kilometre pathway from Mt Kosciuszko in the NSW Snowy Mountains region to the east coast location, Twofold Bay that is steeped in Indigenous culture.
The exhibition, Beyond Balawan, features work from ANU’s School of Art students who took field studies trips to the Bundian Way to specifically learn about the cultural history of the pathway.
ANU field studies coordinator and school of art lecturer, Amelia Zaraftis, said the program allowed students to connect and forge enduring links with the local community.
"I think every student would say they've had a reconciliation journey through the program and that's reflected in their art making, but it comes out in very different ways," said Ms Zaraftis.
"It's like a living museum…It's an opportunity, to not only not lose something, but also to sustain and continue the existence of it.”
The ancient Bundian Way trails wild country via local roads and tracks used by the first Australians who showed European settlers the pathway to help them to get supplies from the Monaro region to the coast at Eden.
Field studies coordinator and School of Art lecturer Amanda Stuart said the works were the personal responses of students to the living piece of history and Indigenous culture.
"It is also about breaking down barriers and pulling together for this shared knowledge," she said.
"In that way it preserves the Bundian Way, because it makes people excited about interacting and sharing it."
The exhibition was launched with a new book about the track - On Track: Searching out the Bundian Way - by naturalist John Blay.
The exhibition at the ANU School of Art will remain open until 11 September.
