Two First Nation cultures meet on the Bennelong sails

Badu Gili is a free nightly projection that turns the Bennelong sails into a canvas for First Nation culture and art. Its latest iteration, Badu Gili: Healing Spirit, explores the way in which the spirit is healed through connection to Country. This year also features an Indigenous artist from outside of Australia for the first time.

The artist is Joseca Mokahesi, an Amazonian illustrator and painter from the Yanomami tribe. He features alongside the late Esme Timbery, an Australian Bidjigal artist, and her children Marilyn and Steven Russell. Esme sadly passed away in October 2023, but Marilyn and Steven honour her legacy through her inclusion in this year’s program and will showcase their own work alongside their mother.

Meet the artists

Esme Timbery

The late Bidjigal artist and elder, Esme Timbery, is celebrated for her shellwork. Her beloved work includes shell models of Sydney attractions — including the Opera House — to small slippers and other objects.

Esme came from a long line of women shellworkers in La Perouse, Sydney. They would often collect the shells from Kurnell and sell their shellwork to tourists.

One of Esme’s seminal works is Shellworked Slippers, comprising of 200 pairs of shell-covered baby shoes. Esme created the artwork to represent the children taken away from their families during the stolen generation. A startling — yet beautiful — reminder of the atrocities inflicted upon Esme’s community and beyond.

In the six-minute projection, we are brought into the world of Esme’s art. Set against the ocean as a backdrop, we see a boat and a whale made of delicate shellwork navigate through the water, followed by a drawing of Esme herself. Through this, the projection explores the passing of artistic expression across generations and the deep connection it creates between family and Country.

Marilyn Russell

Marilyn learned shellwork from her mother and the generation of Aboriginal women before her in La Perouse. She now continues the tradition while adding her own distinctive touch.

During her lifetime, Esme and Marilyn often collaborated, creating shellwork together. Now she makes sure to pass the craft on to her daughter and granddaughter. Marilyn’s work explores the intersection of Country, family and generational history.

Steven Russell

Steven is a Bidjigal, Dharawal and Wadi Wadi drawer, painter and weaver, born in La Perouse. He is an artist member of Boolarng-Nangamai Aboriginal Arts and Culture Studio
in Gerringong, NSW. In 2002 Wollongong City Art Gallery purchased two of his weavings, Hip Bag and Bait Trap, for their permanent collection.

Steven’s work is inspired by his goal to “reawaken” lost cultural practices and pass that knowledge on to others. Included in this, is his use of Indigenous plants. His work Bait Trap is made of Kennedia prostrata (Running Postman) and Cayratia clematidea (native grape). The plants are dried and then soaked to make them suitable for weaving.

Joseca Mokahesi Yanomami

Joseca is from the Yanomami tribe, an isolated indigenous group that lives between southern Venezuela and northern Brazil, deep in the Amazon. The tribe has faced and still faces many existential threats as a result of illegal gold miners, who bring deforestation, diseases and sometimes violence to his people. Through his work, Joseca raises awareness of Yanomami and their struggles.

In the artwork projected onto the Bennelong sails, Joseca captures all aspects of his world in a colourful and visually stunning way. From everyday life in the Amazon to shamanic rituals and the spirits they communicate with, both good and evil.

Bringing the artists’ work to life

Vandal Creative was charged with turning the artists' works into a six-minute animated projection. They achieved this by working closely with the artists to bring their vision to life on the Bennelong sails. Great lengths were taken to ensure the projections matched the artist's real work.

For Esme’s work, they photographed her shellwork in high resolution. They then used 3D modelling tools to recreate the real and unique shells from the photographs.

When and where to catch Badu Gili: Healing Spirit

Badu Gili: Healing Spirit lights the eastern Bennelong sails five times a night from sunset, every night. The free projection invites everyone to head up the Monumental Steps and enjoy these powerful pieces under the stars

Badu Gili: Healing Spirit is a collaboration between Sydney Opera House, Biennale of Sydney and Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain.