2022 Dubbo Hospital Redevelopment - Project Insight

Yirri - The Sun

On 4 March, I presented Dubbo Hospital with my painting "Yirri - The Sun". I was commissioned by the Dubbo Hospital Redevelopment to create a welcoming artwork for the new Macquarie Building entrance to represent Country and welcome all the different nations that rely on Dubbo Hospital for essential health care.

The story behind the artwork has a unique depth of meaning, expressed through the choice of colours and the symbols used. Artistically created to be both visually appealing to the eye and play an important role in sharing the Wiradjuri culture to all that visit the hospital. It was integral for the design of the artwork to offer a sense of a warm welcome to and from the Thubbaga People, for all language groups seeking care at the Hospital on Wiradjuri lands.

I chose the name Yirri – meaning The Sun in Wiradjuri language for the title of my artwork and the story behind it. I felt this title best represented this piece and reflected the sense of feeling of warmth that I instantly received when beginning to create the artwork. I wished to bring that same sense of warmth throughout the entire piece and its story. To acknowledge the traditional lands that we walk on, I have chosen to use an earthy red hue for the background of the artwork. Combined with a further presented colour palette of earth-like tones including burnt brown umber and yellow ochre, mixed with a metallic palette of gold, silver, bronze and copper to compliment the other artworks featured in the curated art collection, that will be showcased at the new Hospital.

In creating this artwork, I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. I pay my respect to their Elders past, present and emerging and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

I wish to give special thanks to Aunty Marg Walker, a local respected Elder for her welcome to Country. This is represented proudly in gold writing along the tree roots of the artwork and is my personal representation of the roots that are firmly grounded in all of us on Wiradjuri Land.

More information about my contribution to Dubbo Hospital’s Redevelopment.