Encounter
at Nagalarramba
Photographs
by Axel Poignant with a commentary by Roslyn Poignant
Published
by the National Library of Australia with the assistance of the Morris
West Trust Fund
Axel
Poignant's expedition to the Liverpool River, Arnhem Land, in 1952 set
in motion one of the most remarkable diplomatic initiatives by Aborigines
in the history of colonisation. Encounter at Nagalarramba is a splendid
celebration of the quest for human dignity through mutual understanding.
Les Hiatt
During the
six weeks that photographer Axel Poignant spent at Nagalarramba, events
were guided by his three Aboriginal companions, the Mawng brothers - Lazarus,
Lamilami and George Winunguj - and Joseph Mangkudja, who later became
the senior Kunibidji landowner of present-day Maningrida, on the opposite
side of the river. The story of the encounter, which culminated in a Rom
ceremony for Axel, is traced in the central photographic narrative of
over 200 photographs, which follows the chronology of Axel's diary.
Roslyn Poignant
draws on Axel's journal and Aboriginal reflections to explore the dynamics
of the 1952 encounter. She positions the narrative historically and considers
the nature of photographic representation, drawing on insights provided
by the community's response to Axel's photographs. As Roslyn writes: This
book rests on the fragile bridge that both parties to the original encounter
built. From this vantage point it attempts to look both ways: to address
two audiences, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal.
Reviews:
This pictorial
and textual account of the Poignants’ diplomatic overtures in 1952, …
is a perfect balance of discretion and revelation. Like a Greek chorus
the reader is powerless but from the first page deeply involved.
Country
Style, January 1997
Information
on authors:
Australian
writer and anthropologist Roslyn Poignant lives in London and has had
a long association with the Royal Anthropological Institute. She was a
1994 Harold White Fellow at the National Library of Australia, and curated
the exhibition Captive Lives — a National Library of Australia touring
exhibition from 1997-2000.
Photographer
Axel Poignant (1906-86) was best known for his splendid studies of the
people and landscape of Australia. Axel was born in England, but emigrated
to Australia in 1926.
ISBN 0 642
10665 7
1996, pb, 235 x 250 mm, 180 pp, b&w illus.

Last
updated 11 September 2000
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