I’m a proud Yorta Yorta woman, daughter, mother and artist. My Aboriginal family on the maternal side originates from the Ulupna Clan in the Barmah Forest on the border of NSW and Victoria states I’m Lorraine Brigdale an artist. I am a proud Yorta Yorta woman and have always been experimental with my art and it reflects me as an Indigenous woman. The fact I’m learning about my inherited culture at this stage in my life is a result of the effect on my family of the period called “stolen generations” and the time of colonial rule over my people and my land. My personal Indigenous inheritance shows me the way to create from the land and understand my own and my ancestors’ stories. Trauma goes back 5 generations but going forward with the help of the earth I’m working to help my descendants understand and accept better how to be strong Yorta Yorta people in our way.
Opening March 18 as part of the Shepparton Festival is UNEARTHED: A projection-mapped mural and microverse by PluginHUMAN, with Lorraine Brigdale and Akshat Nauriyal. Inspired by the wild spaces that exist within and around us, PluginHUMAN, artist Lorraine Brigdale and Akshat Nauriyal present UNEARTHED, a projection mapped mural and microverse.
The mural, which will be a permanent feature, includes an icon that connects audiences with a microverse. When audiences hold their phones to the icon, they access an explorable digital landscape created by Akshat Nauriyal. This microverse is a parallel universe that exists alongside our non-digital reality. The mural and microverse can be viewed 24hrs a day.
During the festival opening weekend (March 18-20), the mural will be transformed after dark into a projection mapped light experience created by Justin Dwyer. The opening, on March 18, will begin with a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony at 8pm followed by the launch of the projections at 8:30pm. “In this project is an opportunity to unite a First Nation woman’s contemporary view of traditional Aboriginal war shields together with contemporary ideas in scientific imagery, illumination and video art,” says Lorraine Brigdale. “The collaboration prioritises Aboriginal art as an integral part of the visual imagery, encouraging a conversation around cultural awareness which is always this artist’s intention”.
Betty Sargeant says, “We use the name ‘microverse’ as a way to describe a small independent digital landscape. People don’t need to download an app or log in. We’ve worked hard to keep this experience independent and to ensure ease of access. The UNEARTHED microverse reflects a kind of alternate universe. One that coexists side-by-side with our non-digital reality. People can experience it by scanning a code that’s embedded in visuals of the UNEARTHED mural.” The circular patterns in the mural have been made from micrographs and mathematical noise. Sargeant photographed the microscopic detail of wasp wings and Dwyer applied mathematical noise to the images. This created circular motifs that fuse scientific imagery with computer generative processes.
Justin Dwyer says, “UNEARTHED speaks to hidden things that have been revealed through collaboration. Collaboration takes time, time for the tendrils of thought and action to meet and join in a cohesive way. I see the mural as a prepared canvas. My projection mapping brings this mural to life in new ways. The projections mainly feature imagery that I’ve created using generative computer processes.” UNEARTHED is supported by the Australian Government through Festivals Australia. This project is supported by Asialink Arts, the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria and The Australian High Commission in New Dehli, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.