Aunty Kim Wandin
“iuk bagurrk gunga” , 2023
bronze, stainless steel
Commissioned by City of Melbourne, for the National Gallery of Victoria, 2023
…
”A significant public artwork, Aunty Kim's sculpture recognises the deep ties between the Wurundjeri people and the lands they have safeguarded for generations.
Emphasising the migratory routes of eels, the sculpture draws attention to their modern journey through sewers and underground waterways beneath Naarm (Melbourne).
In collaboration with the NGV, the City of Melbourne commissioned the sculpture as a tribute to the history of Wurundjeri women. The artwork celebrates their weaving tradition and the enduring connection with the short-finned eel, referred to as "iuk" in Woiwurrung language. Aunty Kim said her weaving honours her ancestors, her grandmothers and the Aboriginal women that look after family.
"'iuk bagurrk gunga' also honours the eel and their journey through waterways and across land," she said, "Just like the eels, we are still here and this bronze monument is showing continuity for my Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Community."”
-National Indigenous Times
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