[Music plays and an image appears of a brilliant sunset]
[Image changes to show moss covered rocks, and then the image changes to show a view from a tree trunk looking up to the tree’s canopy in a forest]
Brian Robinson: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems have been around for tens of thousands of years.
[Image changes to show the grassy outback plains with sparse trees as the camera pans in, and then the image changes to show a side view of Brian Robinson talking to the camera]
It's important to acknowledge these ancient science traditions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people.
[Image changes to show a medium view of Brian talking to the camera]
That's where it all begins.
[Images move through to show sunlight filtering through the forest as the camera pans right, a wide view of Mt Beerwah, and an aerial view of sparce shrubbery in the outback as the camera pans up]
There's a saying what happens above, happens below.
[Image changes to show a timelapse of the sun setting over a mountain range, and then the image changes to show the stary milky way]
If you want to experience the world below and know how things function, you look to the stars.
[Image changes to show Brian outside smiling at the camera, and text appears: Brian Robinson Maluyligal, Western Islands of Terres strait & Wuthathi (Shelburne Bay), Eastern Cape York Peninsula]
Hi, my name is Brian Robinson.
[Image changes to show Brian talking to the camera, and then the image changes to show the plaque for Brian’s sculpture he made “Reef Guardian”]
I'm a visual artist with both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage.
[Music plays as image changes to show Brian walking towards the “Reef Guardian” sculpture]
[Images move through to show Brian looking right, views of Brian looking at and touching the sculpture, and then various close views of the sculpture]
Growing up interacting with my family members that spoke about stories that connected with the water, with the land, with the sky, and how we as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples lived within that realm.
[Images move through to show views of Brian cleaning and working at his workbench, views of different materials Brian uses, and then a close view of Brian’s face looking down]
Going out and experiencing that interaction with my grandfather through his fishing expeditions and yarning about how certain aspects of life influence us.
[Images move through to show an arial view of lakeside country, a brilliant cloudy sunrise sky turning blue, clouds hanging low in the mountains, the sun rising over a mountain range]
I draw on that indigenous heritage to narrate those stories.
[Images move through to show views of Brian’s hands using a drawing compass and then a ruler, Brian looking down, Brian working at his workbench, and then Brian talking to the camera]
There is such a diversity in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across this country.
[Images move through to show views of Brian talking to the camera, Brian’s hands using a drawing compass, a close view of Brian’s eyes looking down, and then Brian’s hands rotating his drawing]
The thing that brings us all together as one peoples is our custodianship to the country, to the environment, to the plants and animals.
[Images move through to show close views of Brain’s drawing, close views of Brian’s hands drawing with a pencil, Brian’s fingers rotating the drawing, and then Brian talking to the camera]
It's an absolute honour to be the artist that has designed the inaugural medallion for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledge Systems, as part of the Prime Minister's Prizes for Science.
[Music plays as image changes to show rolls of various materials stockpiled which Brian uses for his artwork]
[Image changes to show Brian looking down at his work bench, and then the image changes to show Brian putting down his pencil on the workbench]
The journey started off as a rough sketch.
[Images move through to show Brian’s hands using a curved chisel on his artwork, close views of Brian’s hands using the chisel on the artwork, and then Brian looking down]
It's then been hand-carved to create all the different patterns and textures.
[Music plays as image changes to show a close view of Brian’s hands using the curved chisel on his artwork]
[Images move through to show a medium and then a close view of Brian talking to the camera, and then a close view of Brian’s hands using a V chisel on his artwork]
There are a number of motifs that were embedded in the design that stem from that connection to the stars.
[Image changes to show Brian working at his workbench, and then the image changes to show a close view of Brian’s face looking down]
The sky section, which represents the night sky and the day sky that sits above us all.
[Image changes to show a close view of Brian’s fingers using the V chisel]
The land, which is the tactile carved patterns.
[Images move through to show Brian’s eyes looking down, a close view of Brian’s artwork, Brian’s fingers using a chisel, Brian looking down, and then views of Brian talking to the camera]
There are also connections to ancestors, the use of fire and fire management systems.
[Images move through to show Brian looking down, Brian’s fingers using a chisel, views of Brian using the paint roller, and views of Brian transferring the painted artwork onto paper]
It's important to acknowledge these ways of connecting with the country, the seas, the waterways and the skies and how living in harmony with those areas helps us as a nation to move forward.
[Images move through to show views of the artwork drying, views of a digital version of the artwork moving around on an iPad and computer screen, and views of Brian talking to the camera]
It's hoped that this medallion connects with all people that have continually developed these knowledge systems that have filtered into all aspects of life
[Images move through to show views of gloved hands picking up a medallion, gloved hands placing it down on a machine press, the press imprinting onto the medal, and the imprinted medallion]
- land management, sustainability, how we connect as different communities and how we manage social systems, how we produce medicines.
[Music plays as images move through to show the medallion going into a machine, the machine passing a blue light over the medallion, and then the medallion finished and glowing]
[Images move through to show a medium and then a close view of Brian talking to the camera, a medium view and then a close view of a gloved hand holding up a finished medallion]
That sketch, to see it produced at the Royal Australian Mint is absolutely amazing.
[Music plays as image is merging the gloved hand into a black screen showing the completed “Prime Minister’s Prize, For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledge Systems” Medallion]
