There's a certain juxtaposition when it comes to the National Portrait Gallery's new light installation.
Created as a reminder to be socially-distant, the artwork was inspired by the bogong moth - an insect that is known for crowding around lights.
Sydney-based artist Jonathan Jones was commissioned by the gallery to create the light installation, Bogong Cluster, Physically distant, socially connected, which is 1.5 metres in diameter and projected in various locations around the gallery. The projection itself is made up of hundreds of bogong moth silhouettes laid out in a circle.
"The brief was really thinking about looking at encouraging social distancing within the gallery, and I think to their credit, they thought that it would be a good idea to put it out to artists to get a creative response," Jones says.
"So I think it's probably better than what we've seen in most places.
"Sometimes it's just those dots, or even just bits of tape in the form of crosses on the floor in some venues and so I think this was a really interesting and a good move on the gallery's part to think about it in a more creative way."
Jones, who is of Wiradjuri and Kamilaroi heritage, was inspired by the natural phenomena of the annual bogong moth migration to Canberra, and in particular what the time means for Ngambri country.
As Ngambri elder Matilda House describes, "the arrival of the bogong moths in Ngambri country indicated the start of a period of ceremonies for young men, for their initiation.
"Families from many different places travelled here to participate. We called it running to the feast."
Dr House worked with Jones on the project, and gave him permission to use the Ngambri celebration as inspiration for the artwork.
"I'm not Ngunnawal or Ngambri or from Canberra, so for me to come into that place I need to work with elders and get their permission," Jones says.
"Aunty Matilda has been really fantastic at opening up those opportunities for people like me to come in and work in Canberra.
"She's been really great at guiding the project and giving us permission to use that story as part of COVID."
Jones says as well as being a reminder to socially distant, Bogong Cluster is also a reminder that in times where people may not be able to connect in person, they're still connected to the environment.
"As Aboriginal people, we often understand our connections as much greater than just through people," Jones says.
"I know a lot of elders who spend their days talking to birds and don't feel lonely.
"They're very connected to a range of things and I think if mainstream community could learn from some of those qualities.
"Some people seem to be finding those connections in different ways but a few other people sort of need to be reminded that even though perhaps we can't meet as humans and do big events but we can still remain really connected to nature and all the gatherings that are happening in nature are still part of us. It's all part of a big network."
