Artwork and artists
Ausgrid is proud to work with First Nation artists, and artist collectives to showcase local artwork on our assets.
Healthy Dharagang by Shane Youngberry - Bondi
Shane Youngberry is a proud Dharawal man from the Gweagal Clan. Growing up in La Perouse, his artist father inspired him from a young age. Shane’s family has unbroken links to Coastal Sydney, where stories have been passed down and inspired his art.
Healthy Dharagang, meaning Healthy River shows smoke coming off campsites and people hunting along the river. It demonstrates how important the rivers and waterways were for Aboriginal people and the animals that lived in and around them. Rivers were hunting and camping grounds for local clans. They facilitated coming together to share stories, information, and trade. The artwork conveys the importance of keeping our waterways clean, as they are an invaluable resource to all living things.
On Country by Amanda Longbottom – North Bexley
Amanda Longbottom is a proud Dharawal woman from the Aboriginal community at La Perouse. She predominantly works with acrylic paints on canvas, mural art projects and, more recently, in digital art. She uses vibrant colour palettes, storytelling and various styles while keeping it culturally connected with her family and community.
On Country is a representation of our continuing connection to the saltwater that surrounds us and how our people continue to care for country, on country. Aboriginal people know just how significant it is to care for country. Whether on land or around our waterways, they have been caring for country since the beginning of time and continue this practice today.
Looking Down on the Land by Sharon Smith – Kendall Reserve, Cabarita
Sharon Smith is a descendant of the Wiradjuri tribe of western New South Wales. Her paintings reflect her love of the natural world. Through her depictions of landscapes, trees and animals, Sharon explores her own personal connection with and her people’s age old relationship to the earth.
The artwork displayed on the Cabarita Community Battery is about connecting to land and water listening to our Elders to create a better place. It is about creating connection when sharing our stories and is a part of healing and helps us to become as one. The symbols represent men and women travelling the land and the rivers.
Travelling across Country by Emma Peel – Mitchell Park, Narara
Emma Peel is a proud Gamilaroi woman from far north west NSW. She is a local Artist, currently living on Darkinjung country on the Central Coast of NSW. Her artwork which has been designed for Ausgrid, is titled ‘Travelling across Country’.
The artwork displayed on the Narara Community Battery is a travelling journey across the state of NSW and displays areas of significance to this artwork. From the bottom to the top we have Oatley, Sydney, Hornsby, Gosford, Wyong, Newcastle, Nelson Bay, Maitland, Cessnock, Singleton, Muswellbrook and finally Scone. Whilst travelling, our Mother Earth provides landscapes that are unique, colourful, harsh, beautiful and spiritual across Australia. These elements are depicted in ‘Travelling across Country’.
Garad Flying by Leanne “Mulgo” Watson Redpath - North Epping
Leanne is an artist, educator, book illustrator and a Dharug woman commonly known in the Aboriginal community as Mulgo, meaning Black Swan. The daughter of Aunty Edna Watson and Uncle Allan Watson, elders of the Dharug community, Leanne was born and raised in Sydney. She started painting at a young age and has spent her life living, promoting and protecting Dharug culture, people and places.
The Dharug yiyura are connected to all on our ngurra we listen to country and the cries of the garads as they fly above warning us to listen, watch and learn from our ngurra.
Yiyura is a Dharug word for people. Ngurra means home, place of belonging or country. Garad is a Dharug word for the yellow-tailed black cockatoo.
Skylight by Daniel McDonald - Warriewood
Daniel is a proud deaf First Nations Wonnarua artist, living on Gadigal land. His art is inspired by what he sees and feels from the physical environment, the atmosphere, human interaction, and the dreamtime. He started painting when he was 5 years old under the watch of The Elders, who taught him to paint and show meaning through art. The Elders gave Daniel an understanding of community and encouraged him to become an artist.
‘Skylight’ is about overcoming adversity and never surrendering to negative things that come our way. It conveys the idea of both calmness that can be attained from being still in our physical environment; and a resolve never to give up.
For more on Daniel’s artwork visit www.deadlyhandtalk.com.
