Creating Sustainable Change

During February and March 2024, Big hART has immersed itself in developing existing works into different iterations responsive to place and time: Punkaliyarra from Roebourne was invited to Canberra; Bulla Midhong (album) is being written and recorded at Wallaga Lake NSW; Artisan & Watershed has continued programming addressing youth unemployment, community connection, and food sustainability. In the next two months, Skate of Mind will head to Canberra and the Snowy region of NSW, Tjaabi - Flood Country will be presenting several national showings taking this project to a place led by ancestral teachings and cultural respect. 

Punkaliyarra Takes the Stage at ANU, Canberra

Powerful sharing from Ngarluma and Yindjibarndi women at the opening of Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices) First Nations Gender Justice Institute.

Last month saw a group of women and girls travel from the Pilbara to Canberra to perform a version of Punkaliyarra as part of the historic opening of Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices) First Nations Gender Justice Institute at the invitation of June Oscar AO, Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner.

Punkaliyarra is a meditative experience of beautiful visuals, dance, music and spoken word that celebrates ancient and contemporary stories of the soft power of women and how their nurture, care and guidance is formed and practiced in the collective.

Joy and pride overcame nerves as these remarkable women shared their lived experience with 1000+ people on Tuesday night in the theatre at ANU Cultural Centre and via Livestream. There was not a dry eye in the house as the women told stories of loss of land, determination, and the power to stand strong no matter what as sisters, daughters, mothers, grandmothers, and sisters-in-law.

This opportunity was supported by Minderoo Foundation, the Australian Human Rights Commission, IBA, the WA Department of Communities, the WA Department of Local Government, WA Sport and Cultural Industries, and Ngarluma Aboriginal Corporation.

Intergenerational Women’s Work on Show at WA Museum Boola Bardip

Photography, filmmaking, animation and writing combine in captivating digital artworks 

WA Museum Boola Bardip has begun showing two beautiful large-screen digital works, Jarda Bura, Gurri Bura|Jarda Ngarli, Gurri Ngarli (Senior Women, Young Women) and Wangaba Barnigu Wangabarni (Staying Alive). 

In Jarda Bura, Gurri Bura, Jarda Ngarli, Gurri Ngarli (Senior Women, Young Women) intergenerational relationships between women, their kinship system and their living connection to Country, practice and power are explored through film, photography and audio.

Wangaba Barnigu, Wangabani (Staying Alive) is inspired by exploring and observing local plants, trees and wildflowers from Country through the digital lens of photography and visual interpretation on digital drawing apps. This film features the artwork and photography of young women from Roebourne.

Commissioned by the Western Australian Museum Boola Bardip (WAM), funded by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries and developed in consultation with Aboriginal Art Centre Hub Western Australia (AACHWA), these special works will be exhibited at WA Museum in Perth until December 2024. For special sneak peeks stay tuned to our social media channels.

Tjaabi–Flood Country

Sharing the sacred cultural practice with communities nationally

Tjaabi–Flood Country featuring Ngarluma performer Patrick Churnside, will be touring nationally from April until June, 2024 to locations including but not limited to Tasmania; South Coast, NSW; Canberra, ACT; and, The City of Melville, WA.

Tjaabi–Flood Country features the tjaabi song form, which is unique to the First Nations peoples of the Pilbara. A tjaabi is like a musical haiku, with crisp poetic language, capturing stories, dreams, thoughts and moments, which can be funny, profound or wistful. It is simultaneously music, mystery and life. Living culture and country wrapped in sound, image and story. 

“We would like to thank all the elders and families who have supported the development of Tjaabi, Flood Country over the years” said Scott Rankin CEO of Big hART and Director. “The community’s ongoing support has ensured that the stories, dances and songs are culturally safe.  It has been humbling to experience the remarkable culture and talent of this community, we have learnt so much and it has been a much cherished exchange.” 

Initially, Patrick will be touring his Tjaabi practice on country in a series of First Nations cultural exchanges, building cultural safety around this project, as well as conventional venues where appropriate.

For more information on public dates and locations visit our website.