a wodden case with velvet linig. box contains slots filled with eyeglasses lenses and other instuments
WA Museum Boola Bardip

Grigoryan Brothers—This is Us: A Musical Reflection of Australia

Location

WA Museum Boola Bardip
Perth Cultural Centre, Perth / Boorloo

Dates

–

Dates

This exhibition has now finished. Please visit Exhibitions to see what’s on at the Museum.

From 10 May 2023

Tickets

Included with General Admission 

This exhibition has now finished. Please visit Exhibitions to see what’s on at the Museum.

Visit a selection of historical objects that inspired unique original compositions by renowned classical guitarist duo the Grigoryan Brothers.

In 2021, to mark the 20th anniversary of the National Museum of Australia, classical guitarist duo Slava and Leonard Grigoryan composed an album of 18 original works, This is Us: A Musical Reflection of Australia, inspired by objects.

On display in Hackett Hall are some of these collection items, on loan from the National Museum of Australia, alongside accompanying digital material. These fascinating objects carry intriguing stories and include a set of trial lenses and frames used by Professor Fred Hollows, a mourning locket of champion boxer Les Darcy and a lock of his hair, and an exquisite painting by Anatjari Tjakamarra representing the story of the Women's Camp and the origin of Damper. Their musical response and composition adds new layers of meaning to each of these objects.

“We chose objects that try to represent some of our First Nations’ history as well as colonisation, migration, innovation and stories of love and loss. We were deeply moved by all of them.” 

– Slava and Leonard Grigoryan 

The Grigoryan Brothers' personal responses to these iconic Australian artefacts take listeners on a stirring musical journey through Australia’s history and heritage.

Collections from the National Museum of Australia

The National Museum of Australia and the Western Australian Museum share an ongoing commitment to connect the many strands of Australian experience and history.

This is Us: A Musical Reflection of Australia is the third in a series of planned displays at WA Museum Boola Bardip to feature works from the National Museum of Australia's collections and share stories of significance to Western Australians.

The initiative reflects an ongoing partnership between the two institutions, with the aim to increase accessibility of museum collections and to share stories of significance with Western Australian audiences.

The collaboration has previously resulted in display of Yiwarra Kuju (Canning Stock Route) and Papunya.

logo featuring words national museum australia
A small golden locket opened to reveal an old photograph of a smiling man on the left side, and a snipping of light brown hair on the right.
Mourning locket with photograph of Australian champion boxer Les Darcy and a lock of his hair
A hybrid instrument stands upright, composed of a tin can on the bottom, and a long brown circular pipe protruding upwards. Attached to the pipe are a series of strings and dials.
Bamboo hybrid stringed musical instrument called a Đàn tre, an original creation by Vietnamese refugee Minh Tam Nguyen
An orange lifebuoy with the words TAMPA TONSBERG in bold black lettering
A lifebuoy, part of the safety equipment used on the MV Tampa, a container ship owned and operated by the Norwegian shipping company Wallenius Wilhelmsen
A small brown coin engraved by hand, with the words ‘Dear brother when this you see remember me when I am far away 1819’
Convict Love Token. Made of a coin, engraved on one site with the words ‘Dear brother when this you see remember me when I am far away 1819’
A case lined with a red-purple velvet-like material lies open, displaying a box of trial optical lenses and frames in individual slots in the case.
Box of trial optical lenses and frames. These trial lenses and frames were used by members of the National Trachoma and Eye Health Program, which was led by Fred Hollows, between 1976 and 1978.