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On exhibition at Home @ Roto House, Birpai Country 19th November- 29th November
Guudji yiigu
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Welcome to Songback
A relational eco-sound art exhibition
By Arlene Gili Mehan and Birrbay/Birpai Country
Songback welcomes you into a living, sonic exhibition, a place where sound, silence, and Country come together in relationship. This exhibition is a soundtrack to listen with.
Here, sound is kin. Sound is Country speaking.
Every track, every vibration, every moment of quiet invites you into deeper relational listening, this practice honours the agency of Country and recognises that listening is an act of care, attention, and reciprocity.
This exhibition forms part of my PhD research as a Birrbay woman: a project grounded entirely in Birrbay/Birpai Country, in kinship, and in the sound tracks that move through trees, waters, koalas, wind, fire, and the relational webs.
Songback is a sonic sound track, a way of singing the message that sound itself can shape relationship and can guide conservation.
Marrungbu thank you for being here, for listening.....
Before you begin, it is strongly advised that you use high-quality, noise-cancelling headphones.
When we honour Country’s agency, we acknowledge that more-than-human kin are active participants in the creative process. They guide, nudge, whisper, and shape what wants to come through.
Sound map of Watha (Fire),Wati (Tree) and Guula (Koala)
When Watha, Wati, and Guula are listened to, something new emerges. Not a synthesis, but a third agency, an emergent field of knowing that arises from their relational resonance. A song is co-sung by Watha (fire), Wati (tree), and Guula (koala). This is a field of relation.
These agencies speak in languages older than human words. Their communications are ecological, embodied, and temporal. To deeply listen is to tune into frequencies that colonial systems have sought to mute.
The sound of cool fire crackling (Watha), the subtle rustling of leaves in the trees (Wati), and the bellows of the koala (Guula) are not isolated noises, but integral components of a continuous interplay of relationalities.
Pause 6 weavng a new soundtrack
Messages woven by participants
"we promise to care for Country and encourage others to care for Country too"
"Marrungbu what a privilege to be visitor on beautiful Birpai Country"
"I feel at peace, calm, warm, safe, at home, nurtured, present, a natural reset, medicine from Earth"
"Baraya Baraya Ngaya barray wati guying gaan dangaygal wuruma watha bathu gurrwa wirray guribiyn yurra mirriiynbiyn djuukan danggi malu ngaluwi balgrr mara yii marray marrung"
"Country to me is Mother, safety, peace, magic blessing, love Country everything"
"Guula I appreciate your care, the way you call and guide us. Listening with my heart, my body, my self and kin. Thank you for sharing this journey. Helping me as I journey. Together."
"Thanks Arlene for allowing us to enjoy your art, stories and wonderful Country, thank you sista".
"We need to understand the before to get the tomorrow. Thank you to the Ancestors and Country."
"The place has agency, it speaks, and guides, and sings. Already song is sung. Meeting the song".
"Sending this song so strong to Uncle he keeps tending the fire a little longer."
"Marrungbu Birpai Guruk Gaan Guula Mitiji Djiyagan Birrbay Barray Djiyagan Dhanbaan ngarrgan mirriiyn barayagan Gapu".
"gratitude to you and your kin continuing to care for country and inspiring others to care".
"Thank you thankyou"
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Acknowledgement of Country
Songback acknowledges Birrbay Barray, Birpai Country, all human and more-than-human kin, and Elders, those who have passed, those now, and those yet to be, as they continue to guide right-way relationships, and extend that respect to all who are engaging with this site, and with song.
Please note: this site contains images and sounds of human and more-than-human kin who have died.