Wona Bae and Charlie Lawler: Primary Succession
A major new art exhibition will open in Greater Dandenong at 6pm on 6 June, inviting visitors to step into a future shaped by climate change, regeneration and life beyond human control.
Primary Succession, by internationally acclaimed artists Wona Bae (South Korea) and Charlie Lawler (Australia), explores what happens after profound ecological change — how environments recover, adapt and continue when familiar systems break down.
The exhibition has been developed over years of research into the changing landscapes of Melbourne and Greater Dandenong. The artists examined how these environments have been reshaped by colonisation, urban expansion and climate pressures, consulting with Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation and the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (Cranbourne).
Primary Succession transforms Walker Street Gallery into a highly atmospheric environment where art and ecology meet. Visitors will encounter sculptural forms and immersive activated installations, alongside lighting, sound and experimental materials, including mineral and crystalline elements that shift and evolve over time.
A companion public artwork Field of Future Ecologies by Bae and Lawler will also be installed in Harmony Square — an illuminated glass cube where crystal formations grow throughout the exhibition period. The work allows visitors to observe slow, natural processes unfolding in real time. As daylight fades, ultraviolet light will activate the work, transforming the cube into an electric field of colour and slow-moving change.
At its core, the exhibition explores the idea of life after ecological disruption, presenting a world where ecosystems reorganise in new ways. In this future, natural systems learn from past damage, and humans are no longer at the centre.
The exhibition also draws on the grey-headed flying fox, a species vital to ecosystem health. As pollinators and seed dispersers, these animals play an important role in regeneration and are presented here as guides to a future shaped by adaptation and shared survival.
Greater Dandenong City Council's Arts Curator Dr Miriam La Rosa said the exhibition offers a different way of thinking about climate change. "Rather than focusing only on loss, Primary Succession invites audiences to consider regeneration as something ongoing — quiet, collective and constantly evolving," she said.
The exhibition runs from 6 June to 15 August and encourages visitors to reflect on resilience, coexistence and how life might continue in unexpected ways in a rapidly changing world.
Exhibition Details
Wona Bae and Charlie Lawler: Primary Succession
Walker Street Gallery and Arts Centre, and temporary installation Field of Future Ecologies in central Dandenong
Wednesday to Saturday, 11am–3pm
Exhibition Opening: Saturday 6 June, 6pm
Welcome to Country by Bunurong Elder Uncle Mark Brown
Speech by Cr Isabella Do
In-conversation with the artists and curator.
Music performance by Ai Yamamoto
Exhibition Dates: 6 June – 15 August
