About the artists
Aunty Kim Wandin, with collaborating artist, Christine Joy.
Aunty Kim Wandin, Wurundjeri Elder and master-weaver, lives in Healesville, Victoria. Her traditional name is Wandoon, which means spirits of the water.
Aunty Kim is a basket and eel trap-maker, collecting reeds and other fibre plants on Country. The art of using reeds to make eel traps and baskets is a tradition handed down by her Nana Ollie who was taught by Granny Jemima at Coranderrk Aboriginal Station. Aunty Kim plays an important role in conserving the traditions, lores, language and stories of her Ancestors.
A Cultural Consultant who conducts Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremonies, Aunty Kim is also an educator. She works with children and adults, sharing culture and history from the oldest living culture in the world, as well as providing cultural immersion ‘Mirrim Ngagu’ (deep listening) for corporate groups out on Country.
Aunty Kim makes traditional baskets, wood burning and other arts-based work in the authentic style of her Ancestors. Her artistic collaborator is Christine Joy, who brings design, education, curation and community development experience to the team. Aunty Kim and Christine manage their Public Art initiative, Murrup Biik.
The pair is passionate about mentoring young Aboriginal artists and creating experiences that generate awareness about Wurundjeri culture.
About the work
Murrup Biik, by Aunty Kim Wandin, with collaborating artist Chris Joy, honours the location of a significant Aboriginal cultural site as a series of sculptures inspired by Bilang, (meaning string bags in Woi-wurrung language). The Bilang represent Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung women and acknowledges their journey across Country and their work collecting food to provide for families, and as Custodians of the land.
The artwork comprises three colourful sculptures placed across the Siding Reserve and Arthur Street pocket park in South Yarra.
Each sculpture features a patterned design of Murnong flowers, which represent the harvest collected by the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung women of Victoria.
The sculptures are placed in various orientations within native planting. The colours represent ochre colours found across Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Country, used to tell stories and practice ceremonies.