left: pointing the bone, 2009
1,92 x 0,55 x 2,0 cm; c-print on wood, behind: text on wall
Pointing the Bone / The Cursing of John Howard, 2009
This installation revolves around online news reports of the Aboriginal Australian woman Moopor who publicly „pointed the bone“ at former prime minister John Howard in an attempt to put an ancient curse upon him (Colac in April 2004). Howard had earlier abolished the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Council ATSIC and thus made himself many ennemies within the Aboriginal community. Although such curses are usually regarded deadly and strictly as „men’s business“ the former head of ATSIC Geoff Clark later pointed out that the woman Moopor simply wanted Howard to lose the next elections and drive him out of his office.
By cursing him not only in public but in front of several press photographers Moopor created a powerful image of the traditional owners of Australia, their beliefs and their disagreement with the government’s decision. A CNN news report went viral all over the world including several pictures of Moopor holding a small pointed bone in her hands necessary for the magical act. Later those images were removed from the internet because they violated indigenous protocols: Secret sacred sites, artefacts or rituals such as „pointing the bone“ may never be seen or witnessed by people who are not traditionally initiated. Modern Australians know that whether indigenous or not.
Today those images seem almost completely deleted from the internet along with the articles. Only a few online news magazines still list the text and even fewer archival sites still show the text with the photo. Occasionally a substitute picture can be found saying „This image is no longer available“. When John Howard eventually did get reelected as the prime minister of Australia in December 2004 Moopor’s curse had apparently failed whatever the reasons may be.
This installation is made up of two parts: the first one is an inverted print of an original web-based article about the events in Colac wallpapered on a wooden board leaning on the wall. Where the image would be expected there’s a square hole making the text „This image is no longer available“ visible on the wall behind.
The second part of the installation is a photo of former prime minister John Howard having been digitally removed from his official photograph on wikipedia.
press review on Australian Prime Minister John Howard being cursed
www.eniar.org/news/curse.html