Aboriginal art, culture and community have the power to transform the places where we live, learn and connect.
Through Saretta Art & Design and Malang Indigenous Corporation, our placemaking projects bring together cultural knowledge, community engagement, art and design to create spaces grounded in Country.
Culture, Community and Collaboration
In 2016, I established Malang Indigenous Corporation with a vision to bring Aboriginal people and creatives together, creating greater opportunities for cultural, social and economic participation.
Malang means together, and that remains at the heart of our approach.
Today, Saretta Art & Design and Malang work collaboratively with Aboriginal artists, Elders, storytellers, knowledge holders and community, alongside architects, designers, builders and project teams.
Much of this work begins long before an artwork is created, through listening, conversations with Elders and community, cultural research and understanding Country.
Through Malang's Artists Together approach, we bring together culturally connected teams suited to each project and the Country on which it takes place. This helps ensure local voices, cultural authority and appropriate protocols guide the journey from engagement through to installation.
The result is more than public art. It is placemaking that strengthens cultural visibility, creates connection and shares the stories of Country within the places we experience every day.
Connection, Culture and Learning
Marsden Park Anglican College – IMPACT Centre
Two connected artworks created for the new IMPACT Centre at
Marsden Park Anglican College bring culture and story across both the building's external façade and its internal tiered learning space.
The creative journey was grounded in collaboration with local Aboriginal community, including Uncle Graham Davis, Deerubbin Elder and Knowledge Holder, and Paula Mullen, CEO of Deerubbin Local Aboriginal Land Council.
Gathering circles, people, Elder symbols, pathways and flowing songlines tell a story of Country, faith, community and education. The artwork moves from outside to within, creating places for gathering, learning, listening and sharing.
It is wonderful to see Aboriginal culture given such meaningful visibility within a learning environment, sharing a story of connection to Country, community and one another with students today and into the future.
Kurang Gunya – Bush Home
Art, Healing and Connection to Country
Kurang Gunya – Bush Home was created for Hunter New England Health's Residential Eating Disorders Centre on Awabakal Country.
Developed as part of the Centre's interior design vision, the artwork supports the idea of a welcoming "home away from home", a place of care, nourishment, reflection and healing.
Gathering circles, pathways, Elder symbolism, songlines, native flora and water imagery connect the story to Country, while butterflies represent transformation, hope and changing lives.
Rather than existing as a single artwork, the design travels throughout the building across perforated metal screens, carpets, glazing, upholstery, entry features and stainless-steel inlays, before continuing into the surrounding gardens.
The result brings art, architecture and landscape together in a shared story of wellbeing, belonging and connection to Country.
Sharing Our Stories
New Maitland Hospital
On Wonnarua Country, the New Maitland Hospital's 75-metre-long arbour creates a striking cultural welcome on the approach to the hospital.
Developed through consultation with Wonnarua Elders, artists and community, the artwork shares the continuing story of the Wonnarua/Wonnaruah people, the People of the Hills and Plains.
Working closely with
BVN, the original artwork was translated into thousands of individual terracotta briquettes. People and Elder symbols, the wedgetail eagle and flowing songlines share stories of community, culture and Country, while the earthy palette connects with the colours of the surrounding landscape.
The collaborative journey continued with
Multiplex, Hunter New England Health and the broader project team, bringing together cultural knowledge, art, architecture, engineering and construction.
Elements of the artwork also continue throughout the hospital interior, allowing the cultural story to extend beyond the entrance and into the everyday experience of the building.
From Buildings to Major Infrastructure
This same approach to Country, culture and collaboration extends into major public infrastructure.
Most recently, Saretta Art & Design and Malang Indigenous Corporation contributed to the
M1 Pacific Motorway Extension to Raymond Terrace, working with Aboriginal community and project partners to embed cultural stories and artwork throughout significant pieces of transport infrastructure.
With the M1 extension now open, it has been incredibly rewarding to see years of cultural engagement, collaboration and design become part of the completed project.
Creating Places Grounded in Country
Whether we are working within a school, hospital, community space or major infrastructure project, our starting point remains the same: Country, community and culture.
Meaningful Aboriginal placemaking is not simply about adding artwork to a finished space. It begins with relationships, listening and cultural protocols, allowing Aboriginal voices and knowledge to help shape the journey.
Every project and every Country is different.
Through Saretta Art & Design and Malang Indigenous Corporation, we continue to walk alongside Aboriginal communities, artists, Elders, knowledge holders and project partners to create places that share culture with integrity and leave meaningful stories for generations to come.
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