Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI) has unveiled a suite of artworks inspired by First Nations artists and the people, places and cultures of Western Sydney and Dharug Country.
Adopting the philosophy: ‘Country is Life,’ each WSI art installation forms part of a whole-of-airport placemaking approach that embeds Dharug Country, language, stories and cultural knowledge into a unique traveller experience around the airport precinct.
A diverse group of artists, creatives and design experts have created artworks that deliver a shared sense of place throughout the precinct, from public spaces, landscape design and digital experiences to heritage interpretation, wayfinding and place naming.
WSI CEO Simon Hickey said WSI’s bespoke art and placemaking approach reflects the diversity of voices and cultures that come together to welcome every traveller to WSI.
“WSI is a global gateway to Western Sydney – the cultural heartland of our city. Our ambition is to help every passenger and visitor feel connected to the land, people, and heritage from the moment they arrive,” he said.
“We have worked extensively with local First Nations artists and creatives to craft a whole-of-airport approach that reflects the people, stories and culture that connect this precinct with the broader community and Country.”
WSI’s approach has been guided by Cultural Design Principles developed in collaboration with Indigenous design and strategy agency Balarinji, helping to embed a connection to Country across the airport precinct.
Balarinji Managing Director Ros Moriarty said that, through co-design and continuous collaboration with locally connected Aboriginal knowledge holders and artists, Balarinji has woven authentic Aboriginal narratives into the fabric of the precinct.
“We’ve been pleased to work with Western Sydney International Airport to embed Country at beautiful touchpoints. It has been a privilege to help shape the story of Australia’s newest airport to warmly welcome travellers while deeply respecting the enduring living culture, identity, and protocols of Dharug Country.”
About WSI’s artworks and placemaking pieces:
Ngaliya Muru (Relational Paths Lighting the Way): The artwork transforms the Airport and pedestrian bridges and adjacent walls on Warami Drive into a cultural experience gateway to WSI. It is positioned on the key arrival and departure route, celebrating Dharug traditions and protocols by inviting travellers to enjoy their journey with a warm welcome, safe passage and good wishes. The work was informed by a series of original watercolour paintings also created by Dharug/Muringong artist Venessa Possum.
Dharug/Muringong artist Venessa Possum said, “This artwork is a continuum of warunggad (ancestral presences) which teaches us the importance of honouring relational pathways and the cultural responsibility to share deeply held values across Ngurra (Country).”
Barayabinyang (Songbirds): By Dharug and Darkinjung artist Adam Laws who grew up in Western Sydney, this work is situated across five sites in the Terminal Forecourt and Gathering Place. It uses sculpted metal nesting cones, egg forms and grounding stones to tell the story of the Spotted Pardalote and Cabra Worm, creatures connected to the bush and creekbanks of Western Sydney.
Adam Laws said, “Barayabinyang celebrates Dharug connections to the natural systems of Country, grounding the artwork in place while acknowledging our enduring cultural presence within the airport site. Pardalotes are powerful symbols of resilience of Country, nesting along western Sydney waterways while the cabra worm, a totem of place and important food for creekways people, is also woven into the design, linking earth, water and sky.”
WARAMI – Digital Welcome to Country: The Connecting with Country experience for both international and domestic arriving travellers is amplified digitally with this film created by Balarinji Studio and Studio Gilay. WARAMI welcomes travellers through the voice of Country, drawing on Dharug waterways, sandstone and ancient ironbark trees. It introduces Dharug words including BADHU (Water), MURU (Pathways) and NGURRA (Country), alongside three generations of Dharug dancers and the sounds of Country. Dharug words BADHU, MURU and WARAMI have also been incorporated as road names in the WSI precinct.
