The making of ‘Dabiyil Bajara’ | Sonja Carmichael and Elisa Jane Carmichael

Dabiyil Bajara – the ambitious installation of mother and daughter team Sonja and Elisa Jane Carmichael – sits at the heart of Undertow. The work is a map, taking us on a journey of Quandamooka Country, above and below waterlines, from one side of Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) to other, from places rich in sea life that have provided for custodians, to places of healing that have been visited by women since the beginning.In this short film by Joshua Maguire, we are taken to the pristine shores of Minjerribah, where Sonja and Leecee live and work, to discover the process behind this exquisite work, and the reverance for Country and culture that infuses their practice.Presented in association with Perth Festival, as part of an exhibition at Fremantle Arts Centre, Undertow.

Artwork details: Elisa Jane Carmichael and Sonja Carmichael, Dabiyil Bajara (detail), 2021, cyanotypes on cotton, installation”