Experience Wadawurrung Dja (Country) through the art of proud Wadawurrung woman, emerging elder, cultural educator, and award-winning visual artist Dr Deanne Gilson.
Dr Gilson’s exhibition features 20 original paintings and textile works that reflect her love for Dja (Country), her connection to place, and her family’s knowledge and connection to cultural heritage.
Dr Gilson captures the changes throughout the six Wadawurrung seasons by painting her Dja (Country), people, plants and animals.
Wadawurrung Dja: Awakening Country is a celebration of new life as each season brings about subtle changes of birds nesting in the cool season, flowers blooming with life and the deep cultural knowledge embedded within the trees.
Dr Gilson represents the colours of Wadawurrung country in her art practice, particularly white ochre she collects while walking on Country.
“The colours of Country are highly personal and reclaim my culture that was missing from my early life,” she said.
“Each colour links to the act of ceremony, in particular the use of white ochre.
“Using elements of Country within my art practice is really positive because you’re walking on Country, you’re gathering, you’re sourcing your materials and you’re connecting to them as you’re sourcing them.
“It’s a deeper level of art for me because I’m on my traditional Country – my ancestral lands.”
Dr Gilson’s exhibition Wadawurrung Dja: Awakening Country is on display until November 13 at the National Wool Museum.
