Baggarrook-al Biik-u
She is of Country

Wed 20 Mar - Tue 9 Apr 2024

Design Gallery, Glyn Davis Building

Experience Country through the eyes of a First Nations woman, Dr Mandy Nicholson, Wurundjeri, Dja Dja wurrung and Ngurai Illum wurrung. Baggarrook-al Biik-u explores the Layers of Country – below, on, water, wind, sky and star countries. The exhibition looks at Baban Darrang, the Mother Tree, and the metaphorical comparison to cultural survival.

Born in Healesville, Mandy is a Wurundjeri artist and Traditional Custodian of Naarm (Melbourne) and surrounds. She also has connections to the Dja Dja wurrung and Ngurai ilum wurrung Language Groups of Victoria on her father's side and German on her mother's.

Mandy has worked with architects and landscape architects to create cultural safety within public spaces as well as corporate interiors/fit outs. She has also coauthored a masterplan and worked as a cultural consultant for many years. She has authored and coauthored papers around the topic of embedding First People's perspectives through design and planning regimes in an urban environment.

Mandy mentors First Nation young girls through learning and teaching of culture, language, dance, and maintenance of ceremonial practices. She created Djirri Djirri dance group in 2013 to create cultural grounding and support network. She also rekindled an ancient Coming of Age ceremony called Murrum Turrukurruk, alongside two Wurundjeri Elders in 2015 after 185 years of it not being practiced. This work was recognised in 2022 by winning the Ganbu Gullnj (One Mob) section of the Melbourne Awards. Djirri Djirri have performed locally, nationally and internationally.

Baban Darrang (Mother Tree)

Genevieve Grieves and Mandy Nicholson with Djirri Djirri Dance Group 2021 (courtesy the artists and Garuwa Creative)

Baban Darrang is ‘Mother Tree’ in the Woiwurrung language of the Wurundjeri-willam peoples on whose lands the Parkville campus stands. baban darrang explores the ways we embody, grow, nurture and transmit knowledge and culture over time, and how we do this both on an individual and community level through honouring our Ancestors. This digital work, directed by award-winning Worimi artist Genevieve Grieves, celebrates the journey of Wurundjeri-willam / Dja Dja wurrung / Ngurai illum wurrung woman Mandy Nicholson.

Baanj Biik - Water Country

Is what keeps us and everything alive. Water sustains life in the form of water vapour, dew, mist, fog, rain, creeks, snow, rivers, creeks, oceans. We share water from Country with visitors, as a gesture of friendship and that resources are safe while visiting, but no longer as our waterways are sick.

Murnmut Biik - Wind Country

Wind blows our ngulu (voice) up to our Creator Bunjil, while absorbing into the environment around us. Baban Darrang hears us, she also feels the burt (smoke) of our wiinj (fire) signalling her to set seed after the fire has passed.

Barrangalk Biik - Star Country

All of Wurundjeri’s Spirit Protectors and Creator Beings are mapped in the stars. Bunjil is Altair the head of the Aquilla constellation, while Gunuwarra the 2 black swans sit on his shoulders, as his wives. Dan dan and Yukope are the 2 left bottom stars of the southern cross, while Djurt Djurt and Thara form its 2 pointer stars. In the city many durt (stars) are drowned out by artificial light, but we can still see the brightest ones connected to our narratives.

Wurru Wurru Biik - Sky Country

This is where we see our Spiritual Protectors in their physical forms. Bunjil the wedgetail eagle, Gunuwarra the black swan, Waang the raven his main Helper. Also, Djurt Djurt the nakeen kestrel and Thara the black shouldered kite. As well as dandan the rainbow lorikeet and Yukope the king parrot.

Biik Dui - On Country

Where we all live, making sure that our spiritual self remains in balance and is always nurtured in a busy modern world. We connect to Country by following ancient Songlines and trade routes in our genetic memories. We walk where 1000s of feet have walked before, before destructive feet ever existed in this “so called Australia”.

Biik-Ut - Below Country

Where all the tiny creatures sustain life under the ground. Where the roots of the trees communicate through the fungus systems. Where we dig into the ground to collect ochre for gatherings, dance, ceremony, and Sorry Business.

Layers of Country projection

Including soundscape of children talking about what layers of country means to them.

Djirri Djirri Dancers

Thanks to the Djirri Djirri Dancers for performing at the opening night event.