Acknowledgement of Country
Questacon acknowledges First Nations peoples as the Traditional Custodians and first scientists, makers and innovators of this land and their continuing connection to Country.
We acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which our building stands. We pay our respect to the Elders past, present and emerging.
Artist statement
This artwork represents a Welcome to Country and signifies the coming together of people from all walks of life onto Ngunnawal Country. It tells a story of Elders, children and communities playing and learning together at Questacon, connecting past, present and future generations through discovery and shared curiosity.
Wagabaliri – Play
The small U shapes represent children playing together at Questacon. The surrounding circles of dots are family, friends and staff supporting their learning and play. Children are a sacred connection to the future.
Winanggaay – Learn
The 2 large U shapes represent Elders teaching and welcoming visitors. Elders are held in high esteem, as they teach us to be patient and kind, and to look after each other, the land, rivers and animals.
Binyin – Discover
These symbols represent diverse communities coming together to share experiences through listening, valuing diversity and being curious.
Ngurra – Home
The circles of dots and lines at the centre of the artwork symbolise people coming together at ngurra, a word that means ‘home’ or ‘camp’ across multiple First Nations languages.
Country
The dense dots throughout the artwork represent the land, stones and Country, with colours that reflect the changing landscape.
Colour
The blues and purples represent the Ngunnawal Country of the Brindabella Mountains. The orange and yellow colours were inspired by Ngunnawal ochres, and represent ceremony.
What is a Welcome to Country?
Welcome to Country is a part of First Nations cultural protocols. Country describes the land, seas and waterways that tribes – including clans and family groups – have a traditional connection with.
Boundaries tells us whose Country you are on. Just like a map, our Country is marked using key points in the landscape, such as rivers, mountains and scar trees. Whenever we come to Country as visitors, it’s important to be welcomed by Elders and Traditional Custodians. Elders are esteemed caretakers of knowledge and wisdom who connect the past with the present and future.
In a traditional Welcome to Country, a smoking ceremony cleanses the spirit of the person visiting, and gives permission from the Elders to stay and pass through. The ceremony means that visitors will respect Country and the Elders, obeying local rules and cultural protocols.
About the artist
Lynnice Letty Church is named after her grandmother, Letty Little (nee Bell), a Ngunnawal woman who inspires Lynnice every time she paints. Lynnice’s connections extend across Ngunnawal, Wiradjuri and Kamilaroi Country on both her mother’s and father’s sides.
She places great importance on raising the profile of First Nations culture, values and beliefs through her work, ensuring that Ngunnawal stories are told with appropriateness and integrity.
Other exhibits at Foyer
