Megan Tamati-Quennell and artist Yhonnie Scarce shed light on the historical context of nuclear testing on Aboriginal lands in Australia. Her installation 'Orford Ness' (2022) comprises 1000 hand-blown glass yams, which are the food of Scarce’s people. Commissioned for SB16, 'Operation Buffalo '(2024) similarly probes into untold narratives surrounding nuclear testing. Their discussion draws parallels between the desert landscapes of Sharjah and Australia. Tune in to engage with the artist’s sense of materiality and reflections on Country, fragility, resilience and collective memory. 

'Orford Ness' is on view at Kalba Ice Factory and 'Operation Buffalo' is on view at Al Hamriyah Studios from 6 February until 15 June 2025. 

CREDITS 

Host: Megan Tamati-Quennell 

Guest: Yhonnie Scarce 

Editorial and Content Strategy: Jyoti Dhar, Kamayani Sharma and Mahshid Rafiei

Podcast Producer: Kamayani Sharma

Sound Engineer: Basil Kisswani 

Shownotes: Rajwant Sandhu and Suguna Sridhar

Special Thanks: Nawar Al Qassimi, Jiwon Lee, Amal Alkhaja and Reem Sawan

© Sharjah Art Foundation, 2025 

This episode was recorded on 29 October 2024.