Jonathan Jones's Artspace Exhibition Reclaims Colonial History Through Embroidered Plants and Repatriated Objects

The exhibition 'untitled (transcriptions of country)' by Jonathan Jones will be held at Artspace in Sydney from 15 December to 11 February. This showcase examines the colonial exploitation of Australia’s resources by French expeditions. It includes 206 earthenware replicas of lost cultural artifacts and embroidered wool panels depicting plant species taken during Nicolas Baudin's 1800-1804 journey, which gathered over 200,000 specimens from Warrang (Port Jackson). Jones collaborated with migrant artists and Elders to produce works such as 'untitled (embroidered Eora country)' (2021) and 'untitled (remembering Eora)' (2021). Additionally, a soundscape created with Lille Madden reinterprets music from the French expeditions. The exhibition highlights themes of restitution and healing in light of the unsuccessful 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum.