Barangga Yarning: Travis De Vries & Dakota Dixon 2022

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Presented over four weeks at key design institutions across Sydney, 'Barangga' is a yarning series that celebrates culture and community in First Nations design and making practices across Australia. The program connects leading First Nations designers and creatives working in graphics, digital design, object, tool making, weaving, sculpture, painting, and more, with Australia's most renowned First Nations curators and producers to discuss the power of creative practice.

Travis De Vries is a Gamilaroi man and award-winning artist and creative working across digital art, graphic design, painting, sculpture, and photography, as well as dance and performance. He is the founder and director of Awesome Black, a creative social enterprise developing original First Nations talent and unique storytelling content across a variety of mediums. Storytelling is at the heart of Travis' practice which explores personal and universal themes of Indigeneity, violence, destruction, politics, love, death, and relationships. Travis' practice has taken him from performing on stage with Bangarra Dance Theatre, to exhibiting widely in Australia and the UK, and producing bespoke arts programs for Indigenous community.

Dakota Dixon is a proud Dharawal-Dhungatti woman from the La Perouse area and a descendant of the traditional owners of Sydney Harbour. She is currently First Nations Creative Programs Producer at the Australian Design Centre. Dakota has worked on several projects at Barangaroo including a Welcome to Country film 'Wellema' and has worked with Lendlease on outdoor public art sculptures in the Barangaroo area. She aims to work with local community to highlight the talent of Indigenous designers and makers. She has a background in graphic design and enjoys painting in her spare time.

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Presented by UNSW School of Art & Design and UNSW Galleries as part of UNSW Diversity Fest 2022

The conversation will be held at the Australian Design Centre. For details on how to access the ADC, please visit their website.

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'Barangga' is a Dharawal word meaning 'large vessel' or 'island'. It speaks to the significance of design and crafts in First Nations practices, while embodying the notion of bringing people together and holding space for community.

This four-week program of workshops and conversations will be presented onsite at UNSW Galleries as well as at key design institutions across Warrang/Sydney including the Australian Design Centre and the Australian National Maritime Museum.

Explore the full program

Image: Travis De Vries, 'Pop Spears' 2021. Digital artwork. Image courtesy: the artist