Digital Art Project
WA Museum Boola Bardip
Digital Art Project
In July 2020, AACHWA was contracted by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries to provide curatorial and cultural advice on a unique four year public artwork commission at the WA Museum Boola Bardip (from 2020 – 2023).
AACHWA’s role in this project is to prepare curatorial proposal briefs for the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries WA which present recommendations for artworks to be displayed at the WA Museum Boola Bardip for this public art commission each year. The project brief is to celebrate the diversity of Aboriginal art and artists in Western Australia.
This commission will see different digital artworks presenting WA Aboriginal art to be on the WA Museum Boola Bardip building’s two screens over the course of 2020 – 2023. The commissions will create a digital display designed specifically for the WA Museum screens.
In 2022, Sohan Ariel Hayes and their team travelled around the state filming as part of their proposal for Stage 2 of the project. Sohan’s project centred around the importance of storytelling for community, Country and continuity of culture. This approach culminated in a series of film titled Artist in Focus to feature on the Hacket Hall screens. Accompanying the films, Sohan and his team also developed a series of short animation loops displaying simultaneously along the Francis Street ribbon screen at the museum.
The four stunning short films featured the following artists:
- The Griffiths Family (Peggy Griffiths, Jan Griffiths, Dora Griffiths, Delany Griffiths and Cathy Ward) from Waringarri Aboriginal Arts in Kununurra
- Daniel Walbidi from Bidyadanga / Broome
- Juluwarlu Art Group Yindjibarndi artists (Judith Coppin, Alice Guinness and Wendy Hubert)
- Christopher Pease, Minang / Wardandi / Bibbulman artist from Dunsborough, Southwest WA.
These Stage 2 digital artworks went live on the WA Museum Boola Bardip screen on Tuesday 28 February 2023. >> LEARN MORE
AACHWA sought expressions of interest for Stage 3 and 4 of the project asking artists to respond to the central theme to celebrate the diversity of Aboriginal art and artists in Western Australia. Artist selection for both stages took place in May (Stage 3) and June and July (Stage 4) 2022, with the selection panel consisting of an AACHWA representative (Chad Creighton), a WA Museum representative (Deanne Fitzgerald), and an external panellist (Carly Lane). By August, artists for both stages were selected and their proposals are in the early stages of development.
For Stage 3, the panel selected three artists and collaborators. Initial filming and production has commenced. The successful artists for Stage 3 are:
- Brad Coleman, Laurel Nannup & Brett Nannup
- Patrick Carter with Kelton Pell & Sam Fox supported by My Place
- Big hART working with women from Roebourne community
For Stage 4, the panel selected two artists and collaborators. These projects are now commencing with early design development and pre-production work. The successful artists for Stage 4 are:
AACHWA is thrilled to be involved in this incredible project, which will provide greater visibility for Western Australian Aboriginal artists by showcasing their artwork on the WA Museum Boola Bardip public facing large-scale screens in the Perth Cultural Centre and along Francis Street. We look forward to seeing the impact it will have on the artists and the broader community.
For more information contact AACHWA Projects Coordinator Grace Connors projectscoordinator@aachwa.com.au or (08) 9200 6248.
