Noongar artist shows work at Noongar Country 2021: Power and Healing Now exhibition

A Wadandi Yamaji Biyoo woman, Ms Bennell's work is currently on display as part of the Noongar Country 2021: Power and Healing Now Exhibition at the Bunbury Regional Art Gallery.

The exhibition takes on a similar theme of the 2021 NAIDOC Week which is Heal Country!

In February, contemporary Aboriginal artists living on Noongar Boodja were invited to explore themes around the Aboriginal concept of country and how it relates to healing, power structures, history, memory and justice.

The exhibition showcases artworks from established and emerging Indigenous artists living and working on Noongar country.

Ms Bennell said her work 'Rivers Healing the Land' was an aerial view of Wadandi country, where the three rivers connected to the Leschenault.

"You can see where the water in beautiful aqua and turquoise colours meets the brightness of the sunset. The meeting of the rivers is very special to our people," Ms Bennell said.

She recalled fondly her mother sharing stories of camping and fishing along the Leschenault in the 1950's.

"Now as adults we've seen how those rivers and systems have changed. So for me to paint and to be able to say hey, let's look at preserving and healing our country for our future generations is really, really important."

Ms Bennell said a decent handful of the artists involved with the exhibition for 2021 were from the Noongar Arts Program, which Ms Bennell has been a part of for two years.

The program offers a creative space for Noongar artists to not only express themselves creatively but to be active in improving mental wellbeing.

Bunbury Regional Art Gallery Noongar Art Program Coordinator Karen Morgan said the exhibition was important as it profiled Noongar artists and gave them an opportunity to have their work seen.

"This year we have 52 artists with 72 works. The theme comes from this years NAIDOC theme of Healing Country," Ms Morgan said.

Despite the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic last year, Ms Morgan said even with restrictions, there was over 5000 visitors to Noongar country to see the exhibition.

Ms Bennell said the theme of Power and Healing: Now is heavily reflected in her work.

"I've depicted healing in my painting in a few ways. Water for example is a source of life, not only to all of us in the community, not only to us Noongar's, but to the plants and animals within the region. It's about preserving that as well," Ms Bennell said.

"Looking after country is something that's been passed down from our families. It's really important to us, sharing the stories. And also for our people to have a say and have a voice within our community."

The City of Bunbury offers a major prize of $7500 and two additional highly commended prizes of $1000 each at the exhibition.

The prizes will be announced at the opening event which was postponed from July 2 due to the recent Perth and Peel lockdown.

The Noongar Country 2021 Exhibition will run from June 29 to August 22, where viewers also have the opportunity to vote for their favourite art works.

Visit https://www.brag.org.au/ to stay up to date for the rescheduled awards.

"It's special for me to pass down stories through canvas. They are Noongar stories from this area of Wadandi and I am Wadandi. It's also important when I'm painting animals like eagles or dolphins in my other works because I'm hoping people will be mindful to look after the country and to preserve it. That's our wildlife, that's our future. We have to make sure that there are rivers and water lands."

To view more of Dellas Bennell and her daughter, Korrine Bennell's artwork, follow them on Instagram @karrakdesigns.