Reconciliation in Action: Kaiela Arts’ Who We Are exhibition

A statement of identity, connection, continuity, nanyak.

A sharing of Culture, of stories, and of pride.

It was the opening of Kaiela Arts’ Who We Are exhibition.

An expression of Culture woven through language, dance, music and art.

As Yorta Yorta, Wemba Wemba, Wurundjeri artist Lyn Thorpe described it: “ ‘Who We Are and Where we come from’ (Nanyak) innately nurtures the heart of our cultural arts practices and protocols.

“Nanyak embeds continuity of our Ancestral stories and intersects strongly with People and Country.

“Our Nanyak — ways of knowing, being, seeing and doing — in essence represents multiple generations of our Aboriginal continuum.

“Who We Are strongly represents Nanyak and is symbolic in the works from a selection of our cross-generational artists, their diverse knowledges and styles, mediums and approaches in the creation of each of their works.”

This essence of nanyak – the spirit of creation, connection, belonging — flowed through all aspects of the opening.

Brought together collectively by the Kaiela Arts team, the exhibition was the culmination of months of careful planning and re-engagement with artists.

The final collaboration with SAM’s exhibition co-ordinator Nick Baylart and assistant Luke Lewis to present the artworks was a sharing of skills and knowledge – a building of connection and relationships.

There was emotion in the voice of Yorta Yorta, Wemba Wemba, Dja Dja Wurrung man and Kaiela Arts board president Bobby Nicholls as he introduced the evening – a reflection of the importance of this exhibition, its connections to the past, present and future.

And there was language welcoming everyone.

Language – such a powerful connection to Culture, tradition, pride.

In the words of Yorta Yorta, Wemba Wemba woman and Kaiela Arts board vice-president Belinda Briggs: “We see through the eyes of our Yenbena, Yakapna and Woka.

“Our language connects us to a timeless place, where the past, present and future are all one.

“Who We Are is born of our Woka; wala; yurratha; and everything in between that our Yenbena, yakapna and woonghi have yarned, sung, and danced around our wulumbarra since time immemorial.

“It gives us our nanyak and nurtures our connections to enrich our spirit, our hearts and our minds. This is ‘Who We Are’…”

The Galyna Winyarr Dancers.

Young women telling their story — welcoming everyone — through dance as it has been through countless generations.

The watchers nodding in appreciation of this continuation of Culture, proud of these young people continuing the tradition.

As they danced on the spiral, inlaid in pink granite into the floor, a special energy was brought into the space.

A sense of Who We Are.

There were the words of connection to Culture, of links to ancestors – strong, proud words by hip-hop spoken word artist, Bricky B.

Again, the spirit of nanyak flowing through.

The long-necked turtle, the gum leaves, bayuna (flower of the yellow box eucalypt), fish and bull ants – brass and granite images in the floor on which everyone stood – grounded us in this place.

Images of Country and a Culture with deep knowledge and understanding of this land.

A reference again to the timelessness of the traditions.

And then there were the artworks.

Such a diverse collection.

From traditional markings on skin and carved emu eggs, to contemporary representations of belonging and identity on canvas.

All representing the diversity of creative practices and ages of artists.

Printed fabrics — part of an innovative working relationship with Spacecraft Studio in Melbourne (Naarm) and artists Lyn Thorpe, Cynthia Hardie, Tiarne Hall and Jack Anselmi – using natural pigments sourced on-country.

Some of these fabric designs used in furnishings throughout the whole SAM building.

But the lasting impression was the generosity of sharing – the sharing of stories, Culture, of the understanding of nanyak – and how privileged we are in this country to have the offer of the gift of this timeless Culture.

It really is something unique and priceless.

So, take the time to visit Kaiela Arts and absorb the atmosphere and artworks.

There’s much to learn.

While you are there, don’t forget to see the Kaiela deya, manu nyananan (River here, is home to all of us) window at the entrance to SAM.

This is a collaborative artwork by the Kaiela Arts artists Jack Anselmi (Yorta Yorta), Suzanne Atkinson (Yorta Yorta), Tammy-Lee Atkinson (Yorta Yorta), Frances Nicholson (Yorta Yorta and Wemba Wemba) and Eva Ponting (Gunditjmara).

It’s their work you will see inlaid in brass and granite into the floor throughout Kaiela Arts and the foyer of SAM.

Kaiela Arts gallery ground floor (on the lake side) SAM building, 530 Wyndham St, Shepparton.

It is open Tuesday to Friday, from 10am to 4pm, and Saturdays from 10am to 3pm.