Friday, 17 January 2025
The Boodja Dwordak Wirn event, located near the south coast of Western Australia, was a luminous art trail experienced as a guided night walk by 750 community members, who discovered the ancient wisdom of Traditional Custodians through cutting-edge projection and sound design to create an immersive experience unlike any other.
Celebrating Cultural Narratives
At the core of Boodja Dwordak Wirn was a deep commitment to honouring the Traditional Owners’ cultural principles, supporting the work of Cultural Custodians to share their knowledge of country and deeply cultural environmental messages through digital art and technology.
Through collaboration within the community and providing a platform to share stories, the project amplified voices that have often gone unheard, presenting them in ways that were both respectful and transformative.
Young First Nation people engaged as guides, initially hesitant, grew confidence through their involvement in the project, narrating cultural wisdom with pride and authenticity. Their journey from uncertainty to empowerment was one of the most moving outcomes of the event.
Community Participation
The inclusion of unique community lanterns, each one uniquely hand crafted by the families and community of Kepa Kurl, was a particularly impactful installation. Dozens of lanterns decorated with symbols representing the six seasons and incorporating sacred sites of water and the life within and around them, formed a luminous avenue that stunned the audiences.
The narratives of custodianship and connection to country through the trail, celebrated cultural heritage in a visually stunning way, and educated audiences on the spiritual and ecological significance of the location and the land and water animals of the region.
Building Bridges Through Light and Sound
Boodja Dwordak Wirn’s use of light and sound was deeply symbolic. The use of lighting to showcase locally crafted sculptures while carefully crafted soundscapes immersed attendees in the natural and spiritual essence of the land.
Key installations incorporated Projection art, bringing illustrations, spoken word, film and dance works to life in vibrant hues, in sites nestled amongst the native bush.
The fusion of traditional and modern mediums created a shared space where diverse audiences could stroll through the protected bushland, while connecting with the stories, the storytellers, the history and the vision for ongoing custodianship of country.
The project’s impact extends beyond the event, strengthening bridges between locals, and fostering collaborative connections between local communities and the world beyond. These bonds are a foundation for future collaborations, ensuring that such powerful cultural storytelling continues to thrive as the next generations learn through experience.
To find out more about this unique project, head to our project page. Find out more about the traditional custodians of Kepa Kurl by visiting Esperance Tjaltjraak Native Title Aboriginal Corporation.
If you liked this project, here’s another one like it!