Badu gili means ‘water light’ in the language of the Gadigal people, the traditional owners of Bennelong Point where the Opera House’s recognisable jagged contours reside.

From tonight, the eastern wing of these famous sails will be lit up every night for the next 12 months with the work of six female First Nations artists to mark the Art Gallery of New South Wales 150th anniversary.

The ‘Badu Gili: Wonder Women’ artists include Kaylene Whiskey, Elaine Russell, Marlene Rubuntja, Sally M. Nangala Mulda, Judith Inkamala and Marlene Gilson, whose subjects and practices span figurative landscapes of Town Camps around Mparntwe (Alice Springs) to colourful pottery illustrated with stories of the 2020 bushfires. This diversity of styles and modes represents the rich artistic tradition among First Nations communities and the ways these ancient techniques are fused with contemporary mediums to forge new and unique messages.

This is the first year-long, public art projection piece the Opera House has hosted. The projections are free and run for approximately six minutes.

Hot tip: the projections are best viewed from the top of the Monumental Steps just in front of the concert hall entrance.

See more information on ‘Badu Gili: Wonder Women’ here.