22 April – 14 June 2026
Djalkiri – the Bula’bula Arts Archiving Project
In 2024 Bula’bula Arts in Ramingining, Northern Territory began an important 18-month journey to protect and revitalise the community’s archive of cultural history. This experience sparked pride, creativity, and a strong determination to safeguard heritage, inspiring artists to remake and reinterpret their families’ artworks, a selection of which are on display in Djalkiri – the Bula’bula Arts Archiving Project.
It was through the leadership of the Chair of the Bula’bula board, Andrew Wanamilil and artist and community leader Daphne Banyawarra that the exhibition was conceived to be an exercise in revival and pride. This reflective period spent navigating the digitised archive gave the artists pause to reflect on the rich legacies they have and continue to champion into the future.
The title of the show, Djalkiri (footsteps) was chosen by the artists to signify the journey forward while honouring those who came before. Join us to reflect on Ramingining through the past 40 years as we make footsteps into the future.
Exhibition curator: Coby Edgar
Bula’bula Arts would like to thank the Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Materials (AICCM), the Gordon Darling Foundation, Wales Family Foundation, the Digital Preservation Coalition (DPC), Indigenous Visual Arts Support Program and Creative Australia for their support of this multi-year project. The exhibition has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body.
Portrait of David Malangi circa 1985-86
Exhibition dates: 22 April – 14 June, 2026
Gallery hours: Wednesday – Sunday, 12-5pm. Free admission.
Exhibition opening: Thursday 30 April, 5.30pm – 7pm
Guest speaker: Keith Munro, Director, First Nations Art and Cultures, Museum of Contemporary Art
In conversation: Sunday 3 May, 2pm
First Nations curators Coby Edgar and Djon Mundine, with Andrew Wanamilil (chair, Bula’bula Arts), Johnny Malibirr and JB Fisher
