Share
clip 2Clip description
The voice of Scotty Martin chants a song over the image of a sunrise and ancient rock paintings. Scotty introduces us to his wife, Maisie, and to the Wandjina – the spiritual guardians of the land. Scotty talks about inheriting the role of songman from his grandfather.
Curator’s notes
The beautiful stop-frame shot of the sunrise, and the play of light across the rock paintings combined with a sparse but evocative soundtrack, create a great mood of timelessness and mystery. It is a stunningly effective introduction to the main character, Scotty Martin, and when he enters frame he is imbued with power and significance.
The role of the songman in Indigenous society is imbued with power. Scotty Martin, in speaking of the role of songman inherited from his grandfather, introduces us to the relationship between song and the land in Indigenous belief systems, religion and philosophy.
