Uncle Doug Archibald - Kakilliko

Uncle Douglas Archibald
Kakilliko - looking forward looking back
Grove of six eucalyptus trees, grafted together over time
Planted: 10 October 2023

Artwork statement

Six local varieties of eucalypt point to significant Awabakal places. Over time the trees are being grafted to create portals, to look through, to look back and to share stories and to experience continuous Aboriginal culture. Kakilliko means to be, to continue to be in Awabakal.  

From the artist: "Aboriginal people would graft branches of young saplings together to make circles as the tree grows the branches become stronger.  These ‘ring trees’ (also known as circle or boundary trees) were often found near waterways and were significant cultural markers. My hope is the this will start a revival of these magnificent trees so our stories and culture will carry into the future.

I’ve known a Eucalyptus tree at Glenrock Lagoon for most of my life – I’ve had a relationship with it for over 50 years, since I was a boy. We would go camping at Glenrock Lagoon, where the fresh water meets the salt water. Here there were two trees that grew together as one and formed a circle at the trunks. I was fascinated and would climb through the circle. Later on, as I grew older I found out that these trees were called Marker, Circle or Boundary trees.  These trees were in an Aboriginal (Awabakal) camping area which is now known as Glenrock Lagoon Scout Camp.  A beautiful freshwater lagoon with plenty of food from the surrounding beaches and bush.  A beautiful paradise! Grafting trees was a cultural practise which helped the Aboriginal people identify significant and sacred areas within their boundaries.  

When you look at the trees now you can see how two trunks have joined together to form one and only, sadly, a tiny gap remains (no bigger than two fingers) that you can see through.  Sap oozes out here, where the tree is healing and working to fuse together but when I was little the circle and trunks were very distinct.

These trees became my friend as every time I would go there, there was plenty of stories the trees had to tell me. So from a 13 year old boy to a man in his sixties I now get the chance to tell some of these stories in my art sculpture called “Kakilliko - looking forward looking back” in MAC yapang Sculpture Park.

Artist Biography

Uncle Doug Archibald is from the Gumbangirri clan of northern NSW and has lived on Awabakal Country since he was a child. 

His art practice is focused around sculpture and storytelling. A graduate of Newcastle Art School (1979) he has worked with school children on reconciliation projects through murals and storytelling.  Uncle Doug has also collaborated on numerous projects including the Passage photo series with Mervyn Bishop and the Awabakal Dreaming mosaic with Jim Ridgeway, Paul Maher and community participants. 

He is a founding member of the MAC yapang Aboriginal Reference Group.

Acknowledgement

Kakilliko - looking forward looking back is made possible by the support of arborist Karen Barrett and by NSW Government through Create NSW