Jiva Parthipan, Concept / Curation/ Co-Director says, “The Georges River has multiple living histories. This includes ceremony, ritual and leisure, as attributed to it by various communities who live near it.”
He explains: “From the Indigenous Dharug usage and histories, to the baptisms of the Mandaeans, a pre-Christian ethno-religious group from Iraq, through Anglo Australians who use it for leisure and Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs who use it for the immersion of cremated ashes and other ritual purposes, the Georges River has much significance.”
The River Project incorporated dance, song, video installations and visual displays via an interactive two kilometre walk along the River.
It featured Dharug Elder/Artist Julie Bukari (Webb), Jannawi Dance Clan and Peta Strachan, Jeremy Marika, Samskriti Dance and Hamsa Venkat, Narmata Pulapaka, Venkhatesh Sritharan, Yuhana Nashmi and Rooan Al Kamashi, Afnan Amoor with the Mandaean community, NSW Barefoot Water Ski club, and Georges Riverkeeper Rob Dixon, who introduced participants to another important community: the waterbugs living in the Georges River.
River Project
Lead Artists: Dharug Elder/Artist Julie Bukari (Webb), Jannawi Dance Clan and Peta Strachan, Jeremy Marika ,Samskriti Dance and Hamsa Venkat, Narmata Pulapaka, Venkhatesh Sritharan, Yuhana Nashmi and Rooan Al Kamashi, Afnan Amoor with the Mandaean community, NSW Barefoot Water Ski club, Rob Dixon from Georges Riverkeeper.
Many thanks to Concept / Curation/ Co-Director, Jiva Parthipan, and Co-Director / Creative Producer, Sally Sussman.
