“Without truth we cannot heal, without healing, we cannot reconcile.”: Iluka Sax-Williams

With a broad practice spanning visual art, dance, design and more, the work of lluka Sax-Williams is informed by his connection to his Taungurung and Torres Strait Islander cultures. His passion for sharing and enhancing awareness of First Nations practices manifests not only in his work, but also his involvement with community- strengthening educational activitios like hosting possum skin pyrography workshops. The Melbourne-based artist's pokerwork on kangaroo skin artwork Woora Liwik was exhibited at the 10th Koorie Heritage Trust Art Show in 2022 to 2023, winning him the MIT Emerging Artist Award, His work was also curated into Craft Victoria in 2022, with 2023 seeing him commissioned to create work for the recent Making the Metro Tunnel exhibition at Domain House Gallery, Melbourne. Combining linework with statements of cultural reclamation, it's no surprise that demand for Sax-Williams' work is growing.

Woora Liwik

Woora Liwik – ‘Sky Ancestors’. Our ancestor's life and essence flow through our vast land, deep waters and up into the boundless atmosphere. The high Country and rushing rivers and waters hold our people’s rich history and knowledge, revealing its stories and secrets during each one's journey. When you sit quiet and still you can listen to true nature and its infinite Songlines that our ancestors still speak through sweeping up into the winds that run through Country. Their essence passes through us every day in the physical and back into the Dreaming, giving us an extended perception of our environment and world around us. Look up to the stars and remember that your ancestors are always with you as far as the stars reach shining a beacon to light the path.

WAN DHARRIDJI BALERT GUMAK KULIN BIIK - Series II

This a photographic series that captures the artist standing with strength and resistance within a colonial setting. His face, streaked with ochre, dignifies his connection to his Ancestors and people, conveying the thousands of years of connection to the land and waters. Draping his body, Iluka holds a kangaroo skin, with elegant burnt patterns of his design spreading over the kangaroo. The handcrafted design depicts the five language groups that mold together the Kulin Nation and their connection to Bunjil and Waa’s lore. In English, Wan dharridji balert gumak kulin biik translates to I stand strong on Kulin land, and this series is an honoring of Kulin defiance in the face of colonisation. His presence in this space an act of disruption. At first glance, one may believe that he is out-of-place but in reality, Aboriginal people belong to this land. His intention is to reclaim a space in which he, nor the ancestors before him, were ever welcomed in. In which structures of wealth, luxury, and privilege were built by the bloodshed and exploitation of Indigenous peoples both past and present. The photos were taken by Singaporean (Peranaken and Goan) artist Joshua Sim (@the.dr1fter) under the creative direction of Iluka.