In 2016 Rob cleworth was invited to participate in a collaborative project and exhibition held at the Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery, WA, that reconsidered the tragic aftermath of the 1629 wreck of the Dutch VOC ship Batavia, where 125 lives were lost. Contributions from University of Western Australia (UWA) archaeologists and the creative visions of Paul Uhlmann and Robert Cleworth enabled a multidisciplinary approach to history. The discovery of new burial sites sparked reevaluations of how history is interpreted across different fields, influencing our understanding of these events.

Uhlmann and Cleworth’s installations drew inspiration from a lesser-known painting by Dutch artist Torrentius, who had ties to the Batavia mutineers. Their reimagining of these events, along with insights from Corioli Souter and documentation of the archaeological site, created a dialogue between art and science. The exhibition featured diverse media, including photogrammetry, digital prints, and virtual tours, culminating in a rich exploration of the Batavia wreck.