Spoken: celebrating Queensland languages

STATE LIBRARY OF QUEENSLAND HAS CLOSED TEMPORARILY DUE TO GOVERNMENT COVID-19 REGULATIONS.

Spoken: celebrating Queensland languages is a fascinating, free exhibition about the survival and revival of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages showing at the State Library of Queensland until April 19. 

Only 50 Queensland languages remain spoken daily, from over 125 languages that were once spoken. Rediscover these indigenous languages lost and reawakened by the strength of culture, identity and connection to Country.

This thought-provoking exhibition features the exciting work of six Queensland communities saving their traditional languages: Wik (Aurukun), Guugu Yimidhirr (Hope Vale), Yuwibara (Mackay), Yugambeh (South East Qld), Kala Lagaw Ya & Miriam Mir (Torres Strait Islands) and Kuungkari, Bidjara, Iningai, Wangkangurru and Yarluyandi (Central West Qld region).

Spoken also presents an alternative retelling of the prevailing colonial narrative – placing rare historical records alongside the inspiring work of contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists who tell their own language stories through art, song and creativity.

Dive deeper and hear the stories behind the exhibition from a curator or special guest on a free Curator’s Tour or enjoy performances by local first nations writers and poets in Spoken words: between two worlds. 

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