NAIDOC Week Art Exhibition Opening Night: we are Country, Country is sacred

In late 2020, Birrunga and Harry reunited after decades. Both men grew up on Kabi Kabi land, Badderam (Buderim), and share a love and connection to Country as well as history. After viewing a show of Harry’s works, Birrunga realised Harry ‘knew Country’, it was clear as day in the beautiful landscapes Harry captured. Importantly, Country recognised Harry as well, an uncommon thing for a non-First Nations person. This gave life to the spark of a collaboration between: Kabi Kabi Elder, Uncle Brian Warner; Kabi Kabi Artists, Stevie O’Chin and Kane Brunjes; and internationally renowned Cinematographer/Director of Photography, Harry Frith; with the show directed by Birrunga. The result is astonishing - a truly unprecedented collection of works that respond to each other beautifully, across cultures and media, through story and of Country. As these things often do, a catalyst was created where Birrunga was commissioned by Jagera Traditional Owner, Madonna Thomson to produce a work that tells stories of the river that is central to the Country of the Jagera and Turrbal Peoples. These stories are not known by the vast majority of the population who call Meanjin and surrounding areas home. The piece will be unveiled to the public for the first time at the opening.