Warraw’, Garma Festival, 2024
“Floating amongst the Gadayka forest stringybark trees at Garma this year is an exciting new shelter on the Garma site.
Warraw’ – meaning shelter/shade, ‘looking out’ in Yolngu Matha – showcases the commitment to reusing and recycling ghost nets washed up on the shores of the Gulf of Carpentaria by East Arnhem Land rangers and artists. The creation of vessels such as baskets and dilly bags holds a deep and venerated tradition within Yolngu culture with the weavers of Arnhem Land traditionally using Gunga (Pandanus fibre).
The innovative use of Ghost Nets, that would otherwise be diverted to landfill is both a practical application of this material and an awareness building exercise by the weavers of Numbulwar who work together with their local rangers to clean up the beaches of their Homelands.
Image Credit: Tim Hillier
Warraw’ has been conceived by Agency, in collaboration with Cave Urban, Yorta Yorta First Nations artist Shahn Stewart of Alchemy Orange and Yulki Nuggumbarr from Numbulwar Numburindi Arts. This installation embodies the confluence of past and present and highlights skills and traditions both old and new.” - Text via Agency Projects
Special thanks to our wonderful volunteers involved
Image Credit: Tim Hillier
Image Credit: Tim Hillier
Rangers at Garma Festival
Image Credit: Mercurio Alvarado
Kade McDonald’s (AGENCY Projects) address and welcome
Image Credit: Nici Long
Image Credit: Tim Hillier
Image Credit: Tim Hillier
The Build
Image Credit: Taya Solomon
Image Credit: Emma Hudson
Image Credit: Taya Solomon
Image Credit: Tim Hillier
Rubbish on the Shore Conference, Arnhem Land 2024
Warraw’ builds upon knowledge from AGENCY Projects’ ‘Rubbish on the Shore’ Conference in April on Miwatj Country and then following onto Melbourne Design Week talks and ghost net installation.
The Rubbish on the Shore | Symposium event engaged over 20 First Nations rangers groups, a delegation of experts from educational institutions, design and architecture professionals , marine biologists, data analysts and material scientists.
Image Credit: Agency Projects
Image Credit: Sea Shepherd Australia
Conference Begins, Opening Ceremony: Rubbish on the Shore
Image Credit: Nici Long
Melbourne Design Week, 2024
“Following on from Agency’s Rubbish on the Shore thinktank on Country in early May, the growing structure will form an active backdrop for talks and presentations about the cultural and environmental impacts of ghost net and marine debris pollution affecting First Nations communities. Agency have invited First Nations guests to share their cultural and environmental knowledge of the ghost net and marine debris problem as leaders and custodians of the lands and sea, inviting audiences to join their cause.”
- Text via AGENCY Projects
