Biennale of Sydney

About the Exhibition

In 2022, many Yindjibarndi people, including Wendy Hubert, returned to live at Ngurrawaana Community on their ancestral homelands, the magnificent Yindjibarndi Tablelands in the Pilbara, Western Australia. This significant return to Ngurra (Country) is accompanied by a community-driven mission to maintain strong culture for the next generations of Yindjibarndi people, to regenerate land devastated by mining, and to safeguard it against the impacts of climate change.

Underpinned by the Yindjibarndi principle of Nyinyart (reciprocity) between all, including with Country, the initiative focuses around designing a sanctuary to support native flora and fauna, provide bush medicine, and aid the reintroduction of nearly extinct native animal species; as integral to the ongoing sharing of dynamic creative cultural projects caring for Ngurra (home).

As a fierce Cultural Custodian, Wendy has played a vital role in this work, drawing on deep cultural knowledge to produce emotive, gestural artworks of native plants, animals, knowledge, sacred place, integral to Yindjibarndi culture and Country.

“We came back here to Ngurrawaana with nothing… we stopped in the bottom camp down there. Now we’re still teaching our children to see the Country how we see it, that’s the most important one. That’s why we’re painting, to teach our children. And we’re teaching everyone else about Yindjibarndi Country. Our ancestors have left the Country for us, and we need to take charge, teaching our children, the Galharra (skin group family system) and all this they gotta learn.”

Significantly expanding her practice in collaboration with the Juluwarlu Art Group Collective and the Yindjibarndi Rangers, Wendy has created a major new multidisciplinary installation – combining a suite of the paintings she is known for, with video projection, sound, and a large scale indoor/outdoor ‘garden’ installation – on site at Lewers: Penrith Regional Gallery, for the 25th Biennale of Sydney.

Developed in consultation with Dharug knowledge holders in Penrith, the installation will combine rich and culturally significant materials from Yindjibarndi Country in the Pilbara, Western Australia, with local native plants, fostering a respectful and unique cross-cultural dialogue grounded in Dharug Country.

The gardens at Lewers: Penrith Regional Gallery will be transformed into an immersive, On-Country-inspired experience that reflects the immense regeneration efforts taking place at Ngurrawaana with key sacred sites reimagined. Yindjibarndi Nyinyart at Wendy’s Garden generously shares the five principles by which Yindjibarndi people have lived in harmony with Country for thousands of years. These principles are: Ngurra (home), Wangga (Truth, Language), Galharra (Kinship), Birdarra (Ceremony) and Nyinyart (Reciprocity). The overall ‘garden / exhibition installation’ will function as a living space for gathering and learning, offering visitors a rare opportunity to experience Yindjibarndi Country within an urban gallery context – on the opposite side of the continent.

Yindjibarndi Nyinyart at Wendy’s Garden is generously supported by the 25th Biennale of Sydney, Lewers: Penrith Regional Gallery, Regional Arts Western Australia, University of Western Australia School of Design, Juluwarlu Group Aboriginal Corporation, Yindjibarndi Community and Commercial Ltd. (YCCL), and the Yindjibarndi Rangers.