Barani, an Indigenous computer animation show projection mapped onto the roof of the Australian National Maritime Museum during Vivid Sydney 2024 – Humanity, has joined the Museum permanently, though not on its roof.
Photograph: Destination New South Wales
It will now continue within the building in the Museum’s Bamal Yarning Space. However, unlike at Vivid, it is now just a simple, ordinary projection – there is no mapping involved.
The announcement was made on August 19 2024.
Developed by Studio Gilay, Barani – a Gadigal word meaning ‘yesterday’ – is a mother and son story, exploring themes of love, compassion, connection, independence & the inextricable link between humanity and nature, all set in Warrane (Sydney Cove) 500 years ago.
Vivid Sydney 2024 – Humanity was owned, managed & produced by Destination New South Wales while the Australian National Maritime Museum is located on the shores of Darling Harbour & is open, with free entry, every day between 10am & 4pm.
The Australian National Maritime Museum also has on exhibit one of the Schooling Banner Fish lanterns from the Sea Creatures Parade during Sydney New Year’s Eve 1999 – Sydney’s Millennium.
Barani is in part about the visibility of the women as fisherwoman, the first commercial merchants in what would become the colony. They saw the starvation of the newcomers & saw an opportunity to prosper as well as provide with the wisdom of their knowledge. Victimhood at the time was not part of their vocabulary.
Rhoda Roberts, ‘Barani’ Project Ambassador
Watching the storyboards develop for the Barani project, I could see that this was turning into an incredibly special project.
It’s quite incredible how many pieces of information about Sydney’s Aboriginal past informed the overall concept of the animation. I think the part I enjoyed seeing the most was the revitalisation of the fishing song, first documented in 1791 & performed for the Barani animation by Jacinta Tobin, Nardi Simpson and Kaleena Briggs for the 1st time in many years. Barani is primarily a story of joy & learning, learning from family and learning from country & captures the story of Sydney’s Sea Country beautifully.
Matt Poll, Australian National Maritime Museum Indigenous Programs Manager
It is wonderful to give this excellent piece of storytelling a long public life & it now underpins a new initiative in our primary education program. Based on the Vivid Sydney 2024 theme – Humanity, it tells a story of the people who protected the harbour for generations. It encourages us to stop & listen, to look & to learn, to connect & protect what surrounds us. We thank Vivid Sydney for their vision in helping to bring this to life.
Daryl Karp, Australian National Maritime Museum Director
I am incredibly proud that Vivid Sydney 2024’s legacy has resulted in Barani receiving a permanent home at the Australian National Maritime Museum.
The theme of the 2024 festival was Humanity. It aimed to foster connections, spark imagination & showcase the multitude of ways creativity enriches our lives. Barani uses First Nations wisdom to connect people more deeply with the world around us.
Gill Minervini, ‘Vivid Sydney‘ 2024 – ‘Humanity’ Director
Sydney Spectaculars 
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