Art gifts offer a feel for Wardandi culture

As part of the 20 year anniversary of the Bunbury and Jiaxing friendship city arrangement, 20 artworks from artists residing on Wardandi Noongar Country will be sent to China.

The Noongar Art Exchange helps share the stories of the local Wardandi community through their art depicting the connection to country and cultural identity.

Noongar artist Dellas Bennell contributed to the collection and said all the pieces were diverse and told a different story.

“It was a great experience to be a part of and keeping the cross cultural exchange is important,” she said.

Last year Jiaxing gifted Bunbury 20 Xiuzhou modern folk paintings that depicted the local village life in China. The paintings were displayed in five galleries exhibitions around the South West.

Bunbury Regional Art Gallery Noongar art coordinator Karen Morgan said both cities had benefited from the exchange of cultural art.

“It is a very big deal to share your (the artists) work and share your interpretation of your living culture for this land,” she said.

“This beautiful collection of work showcases the connection of culture to life, land, sea and spirit of living here on Wardandi land.

I am sure your collection will be truly valued when it travels through China provinces overseas.