Lecture with Ishmael Ma: Creative Director of the MOA Project

Introduction

• Guest Speaker: Ishmael Ma

  • Creative Director of the MOA Project
  • Notable video artist in Australia
  • Work includes video art, prints, and steel works

• Background: MOA Project

  • Part of the Bolang Art Center in Urkala
  • Combines cultural documentation with creative art

Art Center and MUA Project

• Location: Northeast Arnhem, Northern Territory, Australia
• Purpose: Document culture, ceremony, and language for future generations
• History:
  • Founded in 2007
  • Originated from funds donated by artists from the Saltwater Collections
  • Inspired by early anthropological works like those by Donald Thompson and Ian Dunlop

Rirratjingu Corporation

• Role: Ishmael as a board member
  • Supports community via funding schools, health, festivals, funerals
  • Owns businesses like Rirratjingu Fuel and Rirratjingu Mining Company

MUA Archive

• Content: Videos, ceremonies, football finals, festivals
• Access: Community access through "Yalu" (a community nest)
• Management of Sensitive Content: Restricted content due to cultural sensitivity is managed with family consent

Ishmael's Creative Work

Film - "Galka"

• Theme: Sorcerer and dark spirits
• Inspiration: Childhood stories from family
• Reception: Shown in GMA Festival and Sydney's Primavera

Film - "Mokuy"

• Theme: Rural calmness vs. city life
• Technical Details: Filmed in 6K for 1 hour each

Collaboration with Curtis Taylor - "Scars"

• Collaboration: Connects saltwater and desert cultures
• Theme: Ceremony and brotherhood through shared experiences

Installation - "Watami Man"

• Concept: Collaboration between different clans
• Elements: Cloud, water, and cultural symbols

Other Works

• "Strength from Afar": Visual dance across clan colors and song lines
• "Jarat Tanul": Light and energy across elemental themes

Technology and Innovation in Art

• Use in Community: Provides access to film equipment for community documentation
• Evolution in Projects: Adapting new technology that aligns with cultural storytelling

Conclusion

• Significance: Preserving culture through new media
• Impact of Ishmael's Work: Bridging traditional art forms with modern storytelling techniques

Q&A Highlights

• Community Engagement: Mocha Project’s role in community access
• Career Path: Ishmael's journey into video production
• Future Directions: Exploration of new technologies in art and culture