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About the Artwork
Delama Dja (Embrace Country) celebrates Wadawurrung Country and the enduring connection to land, waterways, and sky. As the water tribe,
Wadawurrung people have long lived in harmony with coastal Country, rivers (yaluk), seas (warri), and wetlands, which provided life,
knowledge, and sustenance. Bright blue tones throughout the artwork honour water as a source of strength, movement, and connection to
Country.
At the centre of the artwork is the meeting place symbol - a space for coming together to share stories and knowledge. Surrounding ‘∩’ shapes represent people, family, and community, while flowing journey lines connect all elements, expressing unity with each other, Country, and culture.
This artwork captures the ever-changing hues of Wadawurrung Country, shifting from the warm orange of sunrise (Pilk Purriyn), to the calming blue of dusk and deep purple of sunset (Tali-talik). These colours embody the life and nourishment the land offers, as the spirits of Wadawurrung Ancestors watch over us, offering guidance from above.
Artwork name: Delama Dja (Embrace Country), Created by: Jenna Oldaker from Murrup Art
About the Artist
Jenna
Oldaker is a Wadawurrung Traditional Owner and Visual Artist based in Ballarat on Wadawurrung Country. She creates artworks under the
name Murrup Art – murrup meaning spirit – reflecting the sacred tradition of storytelling told by her ancestors and their spirits. Her
passion is to create each work with its own individual story and meaning, and to share Wadawurrung cultural knowledge and honour
Country. Jenna was commissioned to produce Delama Dja (Embrace Country) for Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre.
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we operate our venues in Narrm and Djilang; the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Wadawurrung peoples. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and seek to honour the long-standing tradition of building community and exchanging ideas on these lands. We extend that respect to the broader Kulin Nations and the Traditional Owners of all First Nations communities across Victoria and Australia.
