Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) is committed to reconciliation and embraces its role in connecting the world to Sydney’s cultural heartland and the First Nations stories that shape it. This sense of interconnectedness and storytelling is also what has inspired the artwork featured in WSI's new Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
Created by Ngemba-Dharug artist Jamie Eastwood, Mapping Dharug Nura from an Aerial Perspective celebrates Dharug culture and Country.
Jamie’s artwork presents an aerial view of Dharug Nura country, the lands that WSI have been built upon. Nura means Country that has been traditionally maintained through fire stick farming – a practice that promotes plant growth, attracts animals for hunting and reduces bushfire risks by clearing away undergrowth.
Each element of the artwork reflects different aspects of Dharug Country and culture:
- Heart shapes represent the beating heart of Dharug Country and interconnectedness
- Dots symbolise culture
- Lines reflect the region’s river systems, a source of life and journey
- Textured foundations between these details represent Country itself
Jamie shares that these elements will also form a source art that inspires creative expression across all WSI First Nations communications – including the new Innovate RAP.
"I've tried to depict Dharug Nura from an aerial perspective, giving it a patchwork look reminiscent of a parcel of land. The dots denote the many cultural archaeological sites and the richness of cultural significance to Dharug Nura and WSA Country.”
About the Artist
Jamie Eastwood is a Ngemba-Dharug man with ties to Gadigal who has lived in the Western Sydney area for the past thirty years. Jamie has been a practicing artist for more than 20 years, working on both large and small-scale community art projects.
As a visual artist, mainly using acrylic paint, his work has been exhibited widely. He has won several awards, including NSW Aboriginal Artist of the Year; the Centennial Medal Award for Service to the Arts; and the Young Australian Citizen of the Year by Parramatta City Council.
With a wealth of experience, Jamie loves to teach and pass on his skills and knowledge to others. He is passionate about telling the stories of his Aboriginal culture through art in both a traditional and non-traditional way and, by doing so, he hopes to keep the Dreaming alive.
