Nicole Smede. Juried Artist
As Above, So Below
QUT Art Museum
23 June – 13 October
Artist Statement
First, they say
After gili (light)
and divine dulu (footsteps)
was the word, that we hold
the frequency of miriiyn (stars) in our galung (bones)
Yet we have no name for their ‘word’
we have
nyun.guba guthi (her song)
the sacred
gunungang (older) than djuya (talk)
Wanyimbuwanyimbu is an Indigenous concept of time. Translated from my ancestral Gathang language to mean ‘Always’, it is a concept that cannot be captured in the colonial tongue. Its more than always. It’s Everywhen – where past, present and future constantly ripple.
Wanyimbuwanyimbu ripples through time, through the body, across the tongue, echoing in the mouth cavity, born again and again from lips into the universe to be heard in light, sound and the song of Country.
This sound piece is a sonic interpretation of this concept, a deep time journey through past, present and future that connects all things.
About the artists
Nicole Smede is a multi-disciplinary artist of Warrimay/Birribay and colonial descent, living and creating on Wodi Wodi Dharawal Country. Proud of her heritage, a reconnection to ancestry, language and culture ripples through her work in voice, song, sound and poetry, exploring what it means to be ‘of Country’.
A versatile performer with experience spanning diverse genres, Nicole has performed, composed and recorded repertoire from classical, theatre, rock and contemporary music through to film, poetry, installation and sound. Her work can be found in journals, anthologies, galleries, venues and collecting institutions.
Credits: Nicole Smede