WY-CHAR-ANG

Wy-char-ang – detail

Wy-char-ang – in progress

Wy-char-ang

Wy-char-ang – 6 months later

Wy-char-ang – bottles collected onsite engraved

Wy-char-ang – Welcome to Country signage for Ballarat following on from the artwork

This large-scale geoglyphic artwork was created with Billy Blackall and the Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative (BADAC) Youth Group and supported by Regional Arts Victoria. The piece was one of five works created as part of Regional Arts Victoria’s Fresh and Salty project. The 900 metre long artwork depicts 3 platypus swimming near the northern shore of Lake Wendouree. Prior to white settlement the swamp, that is now Lake Wendouree and the creeks and tributaries that feed the lake would have been home to platypus. With settlement bought a Europeanisation of the landscape. Gums were felled in favour of English trees and the swamp was edged with concrete banks. This change to the environment and their habitat has meant that platypus are no longer present in the Lake.

The development of the project was a 15 month process. Across that time there were many sessions with the BADAC Youth Group involving the sharing of culture, concept discussions, design workshops and a re-introduction of traditional language. As a non-aboriginal artist it was a privilege to be included in this shared experience. The work on the lake was completed over the course of a month and lasted for approximately 6 months before water returned to the lake.