At Moran Gallery Sylvania from 20 June to 12 August 2018 inc.
Nganang Badimaya Wangga – Yarns with Gami Ollie George showcases the artwork of 14 Aboriginal artists from Badimaya and Yamaji country in the Midwest of Western Australia. The exhibition celebrates Badimaya language and the life stories of Badimaya Elder, Gami Ollie George. Recognised for his work to record and preserve his Badimaya language over the last number of decades, 82-year-old Ollie George is the current National NAIDOC Male Elder of the Year and the last known fluent speaker of Badimaya language.
Gami Ollie’s exhibition (and accompanying book) helps to preserve and share the Badimaya language with the world. The artworks depict a collection of yarns about growing up and living on Badimaya country. Working with Ollie, the project has brought together language speakers, linguists and Badimaya and other Yamaji artists to create a lasting legacy of the language through art and a full-colour Badimaya-English book. The book also features an audio-reader pen, which allows readers to hear the stories in language as spoken by Gami Ollie.
Artists: Leeann Merritt, Nadine Taylor, Sonya Edney, Charmaine Green, Sherryl Green, Andrea Green Ugle, Barbara Merritt, Kevin Merritt, Margaret Simpson, Astrid Walsh, Elizabeth Anne Walsh, Frank Walsh Jnr, Mr Walsh (dec.), Margaret Whitehurst. Curated by Brendan Penzer
Image credit: Leeann Merritt, Ollie looking proud of himself on a horse, 2016, acrylic on canvas