Ruth Davys: Mabinya, Wibiyanha, Wudhagarbinya.

Ruth Davys
Mabinya, Wibiyanha, Wudhagarbinya.

Ruth Davys has produced a new moving image work, featuring the artist’s puppet alter-ego, Little Ruthie. Mabinya, Wibiyanha, Wudhagarbinya. is a companion to Davy’s current Kid’s Gallery installation, Yamandhu wudhagarbinya? and extends that work’s focus on Language sharing, bringing in Wiradjuri philosophies of yindyamarra (to show honour and respect, to be gentle) and winhanganha (to know, think and remember).

The work shows Little Ruthie remembering Ancestors and Elders and holding on to the knowledge and values they have shared. In revealing this act of remembering and learning, Mabinya, Wibiyanha, Wudhagarbinya. suggests a way of moving through this world with respect and reflection, offering valuable knowledge to all who listen.

A selection of MAMA collection works informed by the ideas of Mabinya, Wibiyanha, Wudhagarbinya. are presented in the adjacent galleries. Photographs by Michael Riley and Nicole Foreshew, print works by Treahna Hamm, and paintings by Matthew Harris offer First Nations perspectives and invite audiences to reflect and move gently on Country.

Mabinya, Wibiyanha, Wudhagarbinya. is presented as part of nginha: here and now, a season of commissioned works celebrating new art and ideas.

About the artist:

Ruth Davys is a Wiradjuri woman who was raised in Uranquinty and is a senior member of the Albury Wiradjuri community. Davys is an educator, a storyteller, a connector in communities, and an artist. Davys has presented artwork at the Albury LibraryMuseum, at MAMA, and has a permanent installation on the Yindjamarra Cultural Trail.

Together with Dr Pettina Love, Davys founded Giilangyaldhaanygalang, an organisation dedicated to Wiradjuri storytelling and knowledge sharing. She currently runs Language classes and workshops, and coordinates artist projects from the Giilangyaldhaanygalang cultural shop and studios in Catherine Crescent, Lavington.