Wurrdha Marra, meaning “Many Mobs” in the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung language of the First Nations, is a new permanent gallery space dedicated to displaying contemporary Indigenous art and design. The gallery also houses Bark Salon, the NGV’s largest exhibition of over 150 Indigenous bark paintings.
Due to the nature of artworks made of natural fibres, the design was developed to offer maximum flexibility and an open, adaptable layout for frequent changovers. The gallery features large, unrestricted spaces with a white palette and oversized joinery. A prominent, tiered plinth runs the length of one room, presenting a slowly rotating, recessed turntable.
For the opening of the space, an ironbark planter box was fabricated to sit alongside benches of the same material. Within the planter box sat a native eucalyptus tree, symbolizing new beginnings and the spring season within in Woi Wurrung culture .
The exhibition involved extensive consultation with Indigenous elders to ensure the design and presentation of the works respectfully and accurately conveyed the cultural significance of the pieces.