Maara Dookerniny – Hands Creating

A heartfelt celebration of three generations of our family’s artistic expression, honoring the enduring power of creativity across Noongar/Yamatji traditions. This exhibition weaves painting, photography, sculpture, sound, and mixed media into a living archive of memory, Country, and kinship—showcasing the deep connection between ancestry, culture, and identity.

In our heritage, hands are more than tools—they are extensions of spirit, instruments of care, knowledge, and creation. Maara Dookerniny (Hands Creating) reflects this legacy: from our Nan’s wisdom, rooted in traditional practices, to the nurturing hands of mothers and aunties, and the innovative voices of younger generations, including a male artist whose work echoes the same reverence. Each piece tells a story—of resilience, healing, and cultural renewal—bridging past and present.

Art is not separate from life for us; it’s a vessel for storytelling and a testament to survival. Some works echo ancestral techniques, while others, like an immersive sonic landscape, push into contemporary spaces—showing how culture evolves without losing its roots. Together, they form a powerful visual and auditory language of strength, love, and continuity.

This collection honors the women who shape our family’s creative spirit, their hands weaving generational knowledge into every stroke and sound. It’s a dialogue between old and new, where making is remembering, and creation becomes resistance. More than a display, it’s an invitation—to witness the stories that course through our bloodlines, breathed into being by hands guided by heart and spirit.

We welcome you to Maara Dookerniny – Hands Creating, a space where art is ceremony, where the brilliance of Aboriginal families shines, and where the past speaks to the future with integrity and love. Thank you for joining this journey.