This latest exhibition at the renowned Kerstin Thompson Architects-designed gallery features new works by three acclaimed First Nations artists: Aunty Cheryl Davison, Aunty Julie Freeman and Jonathan Jones. It’s set to celebrate the area’s rich Aboriginal heritage, focusing on themes of kinship, storytelling and cultural traditions through large-scale installations and historical artworks.

Bagan Bariwariganyan: echoes of country is a major collaboration between Walbunja/Ngarigo artist Aunty Cheryl Davison, Gweagal/Wandiwandian artist Aunty Julie Freeman, and Wiradyuri/Kamilaroi artist Jonathan Jones, who is also the guest curator. The artists, each rooted in the cultural landscapes of the New South Wales South Coast, bring together their personal and ancestral stories to highlight Indigenous connections to land and community.

The centrepiece of Bagan Bariwariganyan: echoes of country will be a large-scale architectural installation in Bundanon’s main gallery. The structure, referred to as a ‘gunyah,’ will be constructed from 84 turpentine trees harvested from Bundanon’s property. This immersive installation will also feature screen-printed skyscapes by Aunty Cheryl Davison, illustrating local creation stories, including that of the glossy black-cockatoo and Cambewarra Mountain.

Another key element is a 75-metre-long mural, created by Aunty Julie Freeman in collaboration with her daughter, Markeeta Freeman. This mural maps the coastline from Sydney to Gippsland, portraying significant physical and cultural landmarks of the South Coast, such as bays, rivers and mountains. The mural will be complemented by drawings from 19th-century Yuin artist Mickey of Ulladulla, on loan from major national collections. These rare historical depictions offer a glimpse into early colonisation from an Aboriginal perspective.

In addition to the collaborative elements, the exhibition will feature individual works by Aunty Julie Freeman and Aunty Cheryl Davison. In Gallery 2, Aunty Julie Freeman’s first-ever solo exhibition will be unveiled, showcasing a new series of paintings that document grandmother stories about the plants, animals and landscapes of her Country. Each painting will be paired with cultural objects that further contextualise the stories.

Meanwhile, Aunty Cheryl Davison’s installation in Gallery 4 will build on her existing body of work, using soft sculptures to explore her family’s stories and the unique environment of the South Coast.

Related: On the architecture of Bundanon

The exhibition’s sensory experience will be enhanced by bespoke soundscapes, featuring local ocean sounds, stories spoken in the local language and bird calls, including the distinctive cry of the cockatoo. These soundscapes will connect the three gallery spaces, reinforcing the cultural and physical landscapes represented in the artworks.

Jonathan Jones, the guest curator and participating artist, expressed his excitement about the project, stating: “Both myself and Bundanon are so lucky to be working with Aunty Julie and Aunty Cheryl, such significant artists who until now have not been given the recognition they truly deserve. This is a really special moment where we can put a spotlight on these extraordinary women and their stories, while creating a project that’s deeply embedded in this place and could only happen at Bundanon.”

The exhibition’s opening weekend, November 2nd–3rd, will feature a series of public events, including workshops on weaving and printmaking, live storytelling around a campfire and performances. Admission to the Bundanon Art Museum will be free during the opening weekend.

Bundanon Art Museum
bundanon.com.au

The second part of the Bundanon retrospective is available here.