A striking new public art exhibition featuring the unique flora and fauna of Box-ironbark Forest on Dja Dja Wurrung Country has transformed Pennyweight Walk into a walking gallery in the city centre.
Commissioned by the City of Greater Bendigo and curated by Reece Hendy from Nacho Station Street Art Collective, the Yirrip exhibition (which means ironbark in Dja Dja Wurrung language) injects the unique and diverse textures, colours, and landscapes of Bendigo National Park.
It features stunning works from 15 artists, 12 of whom are local to Greater Bendigo. They were all selected for their connection to place, distinctive styles, and ability to respond meaningfully to the themes of indigenous flora, fauna, and storytelling of Yirrip.
The result is a vibrant mix of realism and abstraction, each piece offering a unique perspective on the region's natural environment and cultural heritage.
Yirrip features works from Alicia Huddy, Bridget Finch, Troy Firebrace, Lauren Starr, Sarah Macumber, Amanda Peluso, David Snowdon, Jasmine Howell-Saunders, Levi Jessen-Fennell, Steven Stanley, Andre Sardone, Gus Eagleton, Juzpop, Manda Lane and Reece Hendy.
Coordinator Creative City Maree Tonkin said Bendigo's National Park inspired many fascinating interpretations amongst the various artists.
"The exhibition seeks to balance Greater Bendigo's colonial history with deeper narratives of Country, ecology, and cultural identity," Ms Tonkin said.
Exhibition curator Reece Hendy said at the heart of the exhibition was the Box-ironbark Forest, a resilient and unique ecosystem that wraps around Greater Bendigo.
"Bendigo National Park's unique native bloom, with its diverse flowers, textures, and landscapes, often goes unnoticed. This exhibition brings these elements into public view, infusing the city with a renewed celebration of its natural heritage," Reece said.
"This public art activation invites locals and visitors alike to experience Bendigo's natural beauty in a new light through the eyes of artists who honour the land, its stories, and its spirit."
There will be an official launch party in Pennyweight Walk on Saturday November 29 from 3pm to 4.30pm. All are welcome and the project artists will be attending.
