Yininmadyemi - Thou didst let fall facts for kids

Quick facts for kids 'Yininmadyemi' - Thou didst let fall
Artist	Tony Albert
Year	2015
Type	Sculpture
Location	Hyde Park, Sydney, Australia
Coordinates	33°52′30.7″S 151°12′35.9″E / 33.875194°S 151.209972°E / -33.875194; 151.209972

Yininmadyemi - Thou didst let fall is a special sculpture by Indigenous Australian artist Tony Albert. You can find it in Hyde Park, Sydney. This artwork was revealed on March 31, 2015. It honors the brave Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women. They served in the Australian Defence Force to protect their country.

What Does the Title Mean?

The word Yininmadyemi comes from an old Indigenous language spoken in Sydney. It means 'Thou Didst Let Fall'. This translation was written down by Second Lieutenant William Dawes. He recorded the language and culture of the Aboriginal people of Sydney a long time ago. The sculpture's title is a poetic way to remember its important purpose.

How the Artwork Looks

Yininmadyemi - Thou didst let fall is made up of four tall bullets. Each bullet is seven meters high. They are made from painted aluminium, black marble, and Corten steel. Next to them are three fallen shell casings. All these pieces sit on a base shaped like a boomerang. This base is made of crushed granite. Tony Albert got ideas for his design from other memorials around the world. One example is the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin.

Symbols and Meanings

The bullets in the artwork look like the .303 round. This was a common type of ammunition used by the Australian military. It was used in the First and Second World Wars, and also the Korean War. Albert chose the bullet as a symbol for conflict. It also represents human life.

The bullets and shell casings rest on a boomerang-shaped base. The boomerang is a special symbol. Some families gave boomerangs to soldiers going to war. It was a sign of hope that they would return home safely.

The Important Message

This inscription is on one of the fallen shell casings.

One of the fallen shell casings has a message carved into it. Tony Albert wrote this message with Anita Heiss, an Indigenous Australian author. The message honors all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service members. They have served in almost every conflict and peacekeeping mission Australia has been part of. This includes wars since the early 1900s. The text also mentions that many Indigenous veterans faced unfair treatment. Their service was not properly recognized for many years.

A Personal Story

The design of Yininmadyemi - Thou Didst Let Fall tells a personal story. It reflects the war experiences of Tony Albert's grandfather, Eddie Albert. Eddie was an Indigenous soldier who fought in World War Two. He was captured as a prisoner of war in Libya. Eddie's story includes escaping from an Italian POW camp. He was later recaptured. He survived even after three of his fellow soldiers were executed. The three fallen shells in the sculpture represent this part of his story.

How the Artwork Was Chosen

The City of Sydney asked artists to create this artwork. It was part of their Eora Journey program. This program celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and history. Tony Albert's design was chosen from 14 different ideas. His design was made with Cracknell & Longeran Architects Pty Ltd. A group of experts reviewed all the ideas. This group included people from the City's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Design Advisory panels, the Eora Journey Public Art Working Group, the Art Gallery of NSW, and the Australian War Memorial.

Where to Find It

The artwork is in Hyde Park South. It is right next to the ANZAC War Memorial. This memorial has been an important place for remembering soldiers since 1934. This location was also chosen because it is special to the Gadigal people. They are one of the clans of the Eora Nation. The area where the artwork stands was once a significant place for Aboriginal ceremonies, gatherings, and camping. It was also a meeting point for traditional walking trails.

Building the Artwork

Cracknell & Longeran Architects Pty Ltd was the main company that built the artwork. Hargraves Urban also helped with the construction of the project.