Ara Winki tells the story of Anangu: Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara
people living in the northwest corner of South Australia. Through images, films,
sound
recordings and text, this interactive educational program explores the richness
and complexity of Anangu lives.
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| Design
Illustration: To
change from one topic to the next, drag the feather from one mound
to another. |
Ara Winki's navigation and design – as
developed by Rightside Response – evoke
traditional cultural activities. The throwing of rocks – here used to
navigate a pathway through the program – recalls the way Anangu
announce their arrival at a new location. Likewise, the surface of the interface
brings
to mind the
sand on which Anangu trace out the details of a particular story or
the path
of a journey recently made. Ara Winki's sand also records the actions
of the user. Each time a seed falls or a piece of bark is shifted, tracks and
impressions
are left behind.
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| Design Illustration: To ‘throw
the rock’, you need to drag the rock across the screen. This
takes you deeper into the selected topic. |
To simulate the environment in which Anangu live, Rightside
Response’s
design incorporates natural materials collected on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara
Lands. Similarly, shadows cast by onscreen objects suggest life lived under
a blazing sun. These shadows are synchronised with the computer's internal
clock.
In the early morning and late afternoon, the shadows are long and faded. Under
a midday sun, they almost disappear. Ara Winki is now on permanent display
in the South Australian Museum and the Alice Springs Public Library. It is
also currently featured in the
travelling
exhibition Ara Irititja: protecting the past, accessing the future
- Indigenous memories in a digital age.
 Ara Winki's development and
construction was funded by the National Council for the Centenary of Federation.
A team of researchers drew on the extensive
historical records held in the Pitjantjatjara Council’s Ara
Irititja Project.
Ara Winki's design and software programming was
developed by Adelaide-based multimedia company Rightside Response.
| Design Illustration: To activate the mulga stick, drag
it down and to the right. The mulga stick allows you to access a variety
of special features and functions. |
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Ara Winki Demonstration CD-Rom
A cut-down demonstration version of Ara Winki: Life
on the Pitjantjatjara Lands is available on CD-Rom. For more information
Contact Rightside Response.
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