The 5th chapter of the Badu Gili (‘Water Light’) projection series at the Sydney Opera House debuted just over a month ago, uniting First Nations artists from Australia & Brazil in a new projection themed Healing Spirit.
The artists from Australia are late Bidjigal elder, Aunty Esme Timbery & 2 of her children, Marilyn Russell and Steven Russell while the artist from Brazil is Joseca Mokahesi Yanomami of the Yanomami people, the Amazon basin’s largest Indigenous group.
His artwork is drawings of the remote Yanomami Forest landscapes & spirits while Marilyn & Aunty Esme’s artwork is delicate shellwork with Steven’s being prints & weavings.
Their artworks have been combined & animated by VANDAL, well known for their work on Sydney New Year’s Eve, with a soundscape by James Henry, bringing together Indigenous artists from Bidjigal (Australia) and Yanomami (the Amazon’s largest Indigenous group) for the first time on Australia’s most iconic canvas.
The final projection explores rituals & the bonds of cultural and familial connection forged through art and storytelling.
Opening against an ocean backdrop, the 1st section is a tribute to the life and work of Aunty Esme Timbery by her children. Exploring the deep spiritual connection between a mother, her family & their Country, it represents the enduring passage of artistic practice across generations.
The final section transitions to the forests and rivers of the Yanomami with butterflies, jaguars and the songs of its people, where a shamanic curing ceremony is depicted. The ceremony is a ritual performed when community members fall ill to call upon good spirits to ward off the bad. Illuminating the relationship between the metaphysical and natural worlds, it offers a glimpse into Yanomami cosmology.
Badu Gili: Healing Spirit is held for 6 minutes at the eastern Bennelong (smaller) sails 5 times each night from sunset.
It launched on the 13th of December last year with Badu Gili: LIVE – a night of live music & food.
Badu Gili: Healing Spirit marks the 2nd year of a creative partnership between the Sydney Opera House, & the Cartier Foundation For Contemporary Art.
Apart from the first 2 “chapters” of Badu Gili (debuting in 2017 & 2018), which was a rotating series of artworks, subsequent chapters have been themed, Wonder Woman (2021) & had narratives added, Celestial (2023).
Since Badu Gili’s beginnings in 2017, we’ve welcomed over 650,000 visitors on-site & nearly 3 million online to enjoy this free cultural experience showcasing the work of artists from different corners of the globe, whose creations reflect a deep, generational connection to their respective lands.
Jade McKellar, Sydney Opera House Chief Customer Officer
Healing Spirit is a journey of connectivity & caring through culture. From the fresh water deep in the Amazon rainforest to the crashing saltwater waves at La Perouse, we are all connected. I believe Badu Gili showcases the absolute best of Indigenous art in a growing movement recognising the way in which our stories, art & culture continue to resonate in the most impactful of ways.
Tony Albert, Cartier Foundation For Contemporary Art First Nations Curatorial Fellow
As a family we are so proud & grateful for this opportunity to shine a spotlight on Mum, known as Aunty Esme to the broader community. She taught us the beauty of our heritage & shared with us her incredible talent for shellwork. For us, Badu Gili represents the pinnacle of her artistic career & honours her strength, creativity and the way she continues to inspire us every day. This project brings her children, grandchildren & great grandchildren pride & joy in our culture. We love Mum deeply & we are forever blessed to walk in her footsteps.
Statement Of Marilyn & Steven Russell, Artists & Children of Aunty Esme Timbery
I’m happy to be a part of Badu Gili & excited to be coming to Australia to share my drawings and the stories of the Yanomami people. As Indigenous people we will look each other in the face, get to know one another & share this special work with the community.
Joseca Mokahesi Yanomami, Artist
Sydney Spectaculars 