NOONGAR elder Sandra Hill, of Balingup, will be the driving force behind Welcome to Country artwork to be constructed at the main artery to Perth city from the new international airport.
Ms Hill, whose artwork has achieved national and international recognition, will manage the $232,000 project for artwork on one kilometre of walls along Leach Highway.
The roadway, which is currently under construction, will run twin lanes on both sides and hook up with Orrong Road before going straight into the city. The artwork will be placed on both sides of the road as part of the WA Perth Airport and Freight Access Project by Main Roads.
Ms Hill said there were a number of big art projects going along stretches of the road. Hers would be the principle stretch.
“They’ll be the first major artworks that will welcome people to country they’ll see,” she said.
The noise wall will run from Abernethy to Orrong Road.
“The artwork will be driven by what the Whadjuk families, the Perth Noongar families, want,” Ms Hill said.
“I’ve got to consult with the senior Whadjuk families, the elders, starting in August, and gather their stories. The visual imagery will be dictated by the families so they can take ownership and be acknowledged.”
After consultation lasting three to four weeks, Ms Hill said she would present the stories to a Whadjuk working party working with Main Roads on all of the projects.
“All the elders are thrilled I’ve got it, they’ve been calling me up,” she said.
“I’ve worked with them over 17 years, gathering their stories and histories for many public art projects. I’m happy to get this project, it means I’ve got the chance to get out there and yarn with them again.”
Ms Hill said there were stories to be told through artwork about the different orchids that once grew along Leach Highway and about frog dreaming.
“It was such a wet, swampy area, abundant in food, water, flora, fauna, turtles and eggs,” she said.
“The elders have watched it from the old days when it was a dirt track, and travelled on it in a horse and cart. They’re the sorts of stories I’m hoping to acknowledge in the art work somehow.”
Ms Hill said the artwork itself would be very streamlined, laser cut into aluminium, with text in both Noongar and English at both ends of the noise walls – one to go and one to come in.
“It will be minimal and colourful and not too distracting for drivers,” she said.
“It’ll be a challenge, but I can’t wait. I love designing.”
