The Origin of Darkness and the Moon

On 18 May, museums and art enthusiasts around the world marked International Museum Day, which this year focused on celebrating diverse perspectives. The SKA’s indigenous astronomy art exhibition Shared Sky couldn’t be a better match, especially since SKAO recently made the entire collection available online, following the lead of museums and art galleries internationally during the lockdown.

Curated by the SKA, Shared Sky brings together Aboriginal Australian and South African artists in a collaborative exhibition celebrating humanity’s ancient cultural wisdom. Indeed, the movement of objects across the night sky has been a profound source of inspiration for artists since time immemorial. The desire to understand has informed myths and stories amongst human populations across the globe for countless generations.

In South Africa, artists we’ve engaged with are descendants of /Xam speaking San people living in the central Karoo region – close to the telescope site. Using textile as raw material, they produce collaborative artworks that explore their own creation myths and celebrate the ancient culture of their ancestors that survived in the harsh environment of the Karoo for millennia. This particular artwork depicts the Origin of Darkness and the Moon. Here it is in their own words:

“The /Xam trickster, whose name was |kaggen, created from his son-inlaw’s shoe a tiny live Eland. He kept it hidden in the reeds, and fed it on wild honey. The Meercats, jealous and ruthless, found the Eland when it had grown large and beautiful. At once they slaughtered it and roasted it to feast on. This was the first time humanity killed for food. |kaggen, heartbroken, tried to fight them, but was losing the battle. On a bush he found his Eland’s gall bladder, and in his grief, pierced it, unleashing darkness into the world. Then he threw his shoe into the sky where it became the shining moon, lighting the dark for him to fly away home.”

© Jeni Couzyn, 2014

“The Origin of Darkness and the Moon” – Collaborative art quilt by First People Artists, Bethesda Arts Centre: Jeni Couzyn (artistic director). Sandra Sweers (lead artist), Naas/ey Swiers, Maria Tamana, Yvonne Merrington, Gerald Mei, Riaan Swiers, Julia Ma/gas, Rentia Davidson, Felicity Tromp, Merlyn Davidson, Esmerelda Tromp, Frendoline Ma/gas, Serafine Tromp. © Bethesda Foundation. All rights reserved.

“The Origin of Darkness and the Moon” – Collaborative art quilt by First People Artists, Bethesda Arts Centre: Jeni Couzyn (artistic director). Sandra Sweers (lead artist), Naas/ey Swiers, Maria Tamana, Yvonne Merrington, Gerald Mei, Riaan Swiers, Julia Ma/gas, Rentia Davidson, Felicity Tromp, Merlyn Davidson, Esmerelda Tromp, Frendoline Ma/gas, Serafine Tromp. © Bethesda Foundation. All rights reserved.

You can visit the entire Shared Sky collection online at www.skatelescope.org/shared-sky