Two landmark public artworks celebrating Whadjuk Noongar culture have been unveiled at Nine The Esplanade at Elizabeth Quay.
Commissioned by Brookfield Properties and Cbus Property, they create a powerful visual welcome to the waterfront precinct’s newest office tower and honour the area’s deep connection to the Whadjuk Noongar people.
The striking pieces — Gumap and Gudbru and Meeyak — were officially revealed at a special ceremony featuring a Welcome to Country by Whadjuk representatives Barry McGuire and Carol Innes.
Reflecting the guiding role of Dreaming stories in Noongar culture, the artworks honour ancestral knowledge and reinforce the responsibility to care for Country, community, and culture.
The impressive entry statements are the result of a dynamic public art initiative in which two artists were invited to develop original concept designs.
From these, Noongar printmaker, Brett Nannup, was commissioned to bring their vision to life in line with the cultural narrative shared by Barry McGuire.
Artist Brett Nannup was excited to translate the important Two Brothers story of Elizabeth Quay into sculptural works: ‘It has been an awesome experience making, creating, and sharing the Noongar Dreaming stories of brothers Gumap and Gudbru through a 3.4-metre sculpture—together with Meeyak, who looks down upon the brothers as a moon-shaped form intricately carved into the bleachers”.
Danny Poljak, President and Co-Head of Real Estate in Australia for Brookfield Properties, said both art pieces invite the public to engage and interact with the works.
“Walking this journey with the Whadjuk people has been a privilege,” said Mr Poljak.
“With the guidance of Barry McGuire and Carol Innes, we’ve been able to embed cultural respect and safety into the building and these artworks are a powerful expression of that commitment.”
Cbus Property’s Chief Executive Officer, Adrian Pozzo, said, “Cbus Property is proud to play a role in honouring and amplifying First Nations voices through public art. Collaborating with the Whadjuk Noongar community on this project reflects our commitment to genuine engagement and cultural recognition, embedding respect for Country and culture into the very fabric of Nine The Esplanade.”
Located in the north-west lobby corner of Nine The Esplanade, Gumap and Gudbru is an impressive 3.4 metre tall, 350 kilogram sculpture.
Twisted together the two Kylee (boomerang) shapes of the sculpture mimic the two seal brothers Gumap and Gudbru moving in play.
The Kylee’s curved form is unique to the southwest of Western Australia, with carvings on either side representing the land and sky.
Its two tones — light and dark — symbolise the moon and night, day and night, and the duality of Noongar moieties and marriage systems.
Traditionally used in song and ceremony as percussion instruments, Kylees carry the Dreaming from past to present and into the future.
The circular plinth represents Boodja, the land of the Noongar people, with its shield-like zig-zag patterns symbolising the protection of Country through knowledge passed down in story, song, and dance.
Nearby Meeyak (the moon) is routed in the bleachers. The circles within the moon represent the 14 different clan groups within Noongar country, highlighting the importance of relationships within cultural boundaries.
The artworks represent a meaningful collaboration between the artist Brett Nannup Whadjuk Noongar cultural advisors Barry McGuire and Carol Innes, the fabricators UAP and the developers Brookfield Properties and Cbus Property.
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