“Djanga-Spirit” is a captivating photo exhibition and digital projection that intertwines portraits of Elders with illuminated nighttime landscapes created through long exposure techniques. This project emerges from deep connections with Wardandi Elders of the Margaret River Region, who generously share their narratives surrounding the concept of spirit, encapsulated in the word “Djanga.” For the Wardandi people, everything possesses a spirit—animals, plants, and humans alike. An Elder reflects, “ Your body is meat, fat and bones but your consciousness is what makes you you and comes from the earth you’re born on – that’s your “Djanga”, your spirit”.”
The Wardandi connection to nature and country signifies a profound link with spiritual entities associated with the land. This connection is expressed through care of country (boodja) and adherence to lore, transmitted through generations via the oral tradition of storytelling.
Martine Perret is a photographic artist who was born in Paris and now lives and works from her base in Margaret River. She is known for her startlingly beautiful portrayal of the Western Australian landscape, often employing aerial captures and portraiture to tell important stories of our times. Her approach to artistic work is based a career in photojournalism, which includes a decade covering UN peacekeeping missions in conflict zones such as South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Timor-Leste, and West Africa, where she documented the Ebola crisis.
Recent projects like Ngala Wongga (Come Talk), Cultural Significance of Languages in the Goldfields, and Belong: Language Connecting Feeling, Culture, Country exhibition at the WA Museum Boola Bardip highlight the importance of First Nations’ languages.
In December 2022, Martine was honoured to travel to Paris with Wardandi Elders Vivian Brockman Webb, Mitchella Hutchins, and artist Roly Skender to launch the UNESCO International Decade of Indigenous Languages. This included the presentation of the collaborative audio-visual work Wannang Biridge (Light of the Peppermint Tree), originally created at The Farm Margaret River, following a residency with SymbioticA on photomicrography at CELLCentral in the School of Anatomy and Human Biology at The University of Western Australia.
Australia's world-leading photography festival once again filters photography down to its finest. The great thing is that Head On's main venues at Bondi and Paddington are just a bus ride away.
Enthralling. Enchanting. Extraordinary. Discover exceptional photography for free around Sydney during the festival 8 Nov–1 Dec 2024