info

Robert is a lecturer at the University of Melbourne with the Grimwade Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation, in the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies. Research is focused on documenting how different groups conserve knowledge practices. The outcomes are multiplatform, generating innovative media projects, scholarly texts, cross-cultural publications, art exhibitions, social outreach projects and teaching programs. He was previously based in Northern Australia, where he lived and worked with the Yolngu people of Northeast Arnhem Land.

Research interests:
Cultural Anthropology, Audiovisual Ethnography, Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Performance, Art Documentation, Conserving Time-based Media, Digital Heritage, Creative and Practice-led Research Methods.

Publications
Robert has published cultural material in formats including ethnographic films, interactive museum installations, traditional music anthologies, live performance recordings, radio documentaries, conference sessions and journal articles.

Selected Articles

  1. Robert Lazarus (2022) ‘Circulating cassettes of ceremony: Indigenous peer-to-peer networks in Arnhem Land’, Media, Culture & Society, 44(1), pp. 141–160.
  2. Robert Lazarus Lane (2021) ‘Updated? Teaching Conservation Through Time-Based Media Art’, AICCM Bulletin, 42:1, 4-12
  3. Robert Lazarus Lane (2019) ‘Locating Cross-cultural Fieldwork in the Discipline of Conservation’ Journal of the Institute of Conservation. London: Routledge.
  4. Robert Lazarus Lane (2019) ‘ Documentation Cultures: Arnhem Land 1935- 2015.’ PhD Thesis, College of Arts and Social Sciences. Canberra: The Australian National University.
  5. Robert Lazarus Lane and Wdowin-McGregor, J, (2017) ‘Reperformance Strategies for the Reiteration of Tino Sehgal’s Constructed Situations’ Collecting and Conserving Performance Art. Berlin: VDR.
  6. Robert Lazarus Lane (2017) ‘Wukun Wanambi’s Nhina, Nhama ga Ngama’, in Darren Jorgensen and Ian McLean (eds), Indigenous Archives: The making and unmaking of Aboriginal art. Perth: UWA Publishing.
  7. Robert Lazarus Lane and Jesse Wdowin-McGregor (2016) ‘This Is So Contemporary? Mediums of Exchange and Conservation’. London: Studies in Conservation.
  8. Robert Lazarus Lane (2016) ‘Gali Yalkarriwuy Gurruwiwi’. Fifty artworks from the Monash University Collection. Monash University Museum of Art.
  9. Robert Lazarus Lane (2015) ‘Cultural Conservation Professional Development’. Telematics. Victorian State Government, Melbourne.

Selected Conference papers

  1. Robert Lazarus Lane and Louise Lawson (2020) Preservation Through Knowledge Transmission: From Artist to Institution. Invited Presentation, Precarious Movements, MUMA, Monash University.
  2. Robert Lazarus Lane (2020) ‘Smoke and Mirrors’ Presenter. Anthropology and Geography: Dialogues Past, Present and Future. RAI, London
  3. Robert Lazarus Lane (2018) ‘Rethinking Reperformance’ Invited Presentation, Collecting the Now Symposium, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
  4. Ishmael Marika, Robert Lazarus Lane and Wukun Wanambi (2018) The Mulka Project (To Hold and Protect). Invited Lead Presentation. Preserving the Near Future Symposium. ACMI, Melbourne
  5. Robert Lazarus Lane (2018) ‘Locating Conservation Education with Australia’s Cultural Continuum’ Shifting Curriculums’ Symposium, Invited Presentation, Queens University, Ontario.
  6. Robert Lazarus Lane (2017) ‘Museum Performance’. Invited Presentation, Creating Value: Museums, Collections and Communities Symposium. Australian National University, Canberra.
  7. Robert Lazarus Lane (2017) ‘Yirrkala cassette archives’. Invited Presentation. Information Technologies Indigenous Communities. Australian Society of Archivists Conference. University of Melbourne.
  8. Karen Wilcox, Shannon Klaassen and Robert Lazarus Lane (2017) ‘A Lesson in Software- based Art: Conserving Philip Brophy’s The Body Malleable’. Presenter, Shock of the New: Modern Materials, Media and Methods. Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Material Symposium. Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne.
  9. Robert Lazarus Lane (2016) ‘This Is So Contemporary: Mediums of Exchange and Conservation’. Presenter, Saving the Now. International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works Congress, Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles.
  10. Robert Lazarus Lane (2016) ‘Acting in Concert’. Presenter, Performance Climates. Performance Studies Institute #22, University of Melbourne.
  11. Robert Lazarus Lane and Jesse Wdowin-McGregor (2016) ‘Reperformance strategies for the reiteration of Tino Sehgal’s This is So Contemporary’. Presenter, Collecting and Conserving Performance Art, Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg.
  12. Robert Lazarus Lane (2015) ‘Transculturation in Art Centres’, Invited Presentation, The Art Association of Australia and New Zealand, Museum of Modern Art, Brisbane.
  13. Jesse Wdowin-McGregor and Robert Lazarus Lane (2015) ‘Knowledge transfer strategies for the acquisition of contemporary live art.’ Presenter, Illuminating the new: contemporary practice and issues in materials conservation. Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Material National Conference, Hobart, Australia
  14. Robert Lazarus Lane (2014) ‘Ceremonial Machines’, Presenter, Interdisciplinary Cross Cultural Research, Australian National University, Canberra
  15. Robert Lazarus Lane (2011) ‘Intangible Heritage’, Invited Presentation, Indigenous Biocultual Diversity, National Museum of the American Indian, Washington

Selected online works:

  1. Robert Lazarus (2016) ‘ReCollections’. Online text book. Ministry for the Arts, in development
  2. Robert Lazarus (2014) ‘ConservationAnswers’. Preventative conservation forum. Telematics
  3. Robert Lazarus (2012-2016) ‘Buku-Larrnggay Mulka’. Marketing platform. Northern Territory Government


Selected screen works:

  1. Robert Lazarus Lane and Alan Griffiths (2017) ‘Bali Bali Balga’. (16mins). The National 2017: New Australian Art. Carriageworks.
  2. Robert Lazarus Lane (2013) ‘Made to Last: The Conservation of Art’. (15mins) Documentary. McClennand Gallery
  3. Robert Lazarus Lane (2012) ‘Stories Under Tagai’. (14mins) Documentary. State Library of Queensland
  4. Robert Lazarus Lane (2012) ‘Yirrkala Museum’. Multimedia application. Buku Larrnggay Mulka
  5. Robert Lazarus Lane. (2011) ‘Rorruwuy Manikay Recording’ (22mins) Live Recording. Buku Larrnggay Mulka
  6. Robert Lazarus Lane and Ishmael Marika (2011) ‘Yalangbara: Art of the Djang’kawu’. Performance Documentation. The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.
  7. Robert Lazarus Lane and Yumutjin Wunungmurra (2011) ‘Yiki Bunggul’ (16mins) Message Sticks. Gulkula, Garma Festival of Traditional Culture
  8. Robert Lazarus Lane and Ishmael Marika (2011) ‘Wanga Watangumirri Dharuk’ (15mins) Message Sticks. Gulkula, Garma Festival of Traditional Culture
  9. Robert Lazarus Lane and Wukun Wanambi (2011) ‘Mulka Garma Bunggul Collection 2008-2011.’ Gumatj, Maringa, Mawung, Marrdarrpa, Datiwuy, Galpu, Djadawitjibi Nundhirribala, Anangu, Warnindilyakwa Ngarinyman, Tiwi, Beswick. Aboriginal Collection: National film and Sound Archives (12hrs) Collection of Live Dance Recordings.
  10. Robert Lazarus Lane and Wukun Wanambi (2011) ‘Mulka Dhapi Ceremony Collection 2008-2011.’ Yirritja and Dhuwa. Aboriginal Collection: National film and Sound Archives (22hrs) Archive of Initiation Ceremonies
  11. Robert Lazarus Lane and Wukun Wanambi (2011) ‘Nhama collection 2007-2011.’ Aboriginal Collection: National film and Sound Archives (4hrs) Short Films

Selected Audio recordings:

  1. Robert Lazarus Lane (2012) ‘Kalaw Kawaw Ya’, State Library of Queensland. Oral recording
  2. Robert Lazarus Lane (2011) ‘Rorruwuy’ by Songmen: Manydjarri and Ngongu Ganambarr. Yidaki: Marrawulwul Garmu. Recorded in Rorruwuy homeland northeast Arnhem land Australia.’ 91 tracks (The Mulka Manikay Archives) music album
  3. Robert Lazarus Lane (2011) ‘Yilan’ by Songmen: Manydjarri and Ngongu Ganambarr. Yidaki: Marrawulwul Garmu. Recorded in Rorruwuy homeland northeast Arnhem land Australia.’ 91 tracks (The Mulka Manikay Archives) music album
  4. Robert Lazarus Lane (2011) ‘Yinapunapu’ by Songmen: Balaka Maymuru, Yidaki : Guynbi. Recorded in Yirrkala northeast Arnhem land Australia.’ 51 tracks (The Mulka Manikay Archives) music album
  5. Robert Lazarus Lane (2011) ‘Larrakitj’ by Waka Munungurr, Yumutjin Wunungmurra and Wukun Wanambi (16mins) Director. Audio Installation for Gilbert+Tobin, Sydney
  6. Robert Lazarus Lane (2010) ‘Local Knowledge’ by Performer Maymuru, R. Recorded in Yirrkala northeast Arnhem land Australia.’ 4 tracks. music album