'We can have traditional practice but what does that look like in a changed world where we don’t have access to many of our spaces?'
Aidan Hartshorn’s (Walgalu/Wiradjuri) practice explores the ongoing environmental and cultural impacts of industrialisation in Australia’s high country. Growing up in Tumut, where the Murrumbidgee and Tumut Rivers converge, Hartshorn’s deep connection to his ancestral land has been shaped by the disruptions of the Snowy Hydro-Electric Scheme—a project that submerged much of Walgalu Country, erasing sacred sites and ceremonial grounds. The flooding of these spaces, along with the diversion of the Snowy River, continues to affect Hartshorn’s community, limiting access to cultural practices and ancestral sites.
Through his work, Hartshorn addresses the complex intersection of colonisation, environmental degradation, and cultural loss, often using industrial glass to create objects that speak to both his heritage and the ongoing ecological damage. His practice—crafting cultural objects, including his Murrin (bark canoe)—reflects a deep meditation on loss, resilience, and the continuous struggle to reclaim connection to the land.
Hartshorn’s practice sheds light on the broader environmental consequences of Australia’s water management systems. Challenging the climate conscious narratives championed by institutions and government bodies, Hartshorn highlights the devastating impact on Walgalu Country. In his work, patterns and forms echo the fracturing of the land and water systems, with refractions that reflect both the beauty and violence of the landscapes that have been altered. Beyond the aesthetic consequences of human interventions, his visual inquiries questions the relationship between industry, culture, and land.
At the heart of Hartshorn’s practice is a desire to reclaim and revitalise his culture while advocating for a more sustainable future—one where Aboriginal communities are invited to contribute to solutions that respect both Country and community. His work not only critiques the past but envisions a future where Aboriginal values are central to the development of Australia’s environmental and cultural policies.