Wagga Wagga–based Gamilaaray artist Juanita McLauchlan recognises the constellations above us, and the everyday pillars of family and community, as anchors we all have in common.

In her first state art museum exhibition, McLauchlan presents an ambitious new body of work that draws upon the intimacy of personal belongings and body adornments. Using domestic fabrics such as vintage blankets as a base, she works with leaves, animal pelts and other organic materials to print, eco-dye and embroider, creating works that aren’t constrained to a flat wall mounting, but are suspended in space.

The exhibition, yilaa minyaminyabal maaru-ma-lda-y (soon everything will be healing), acknowledges the power of unity, connectedness and cultural reclamation to soothe historical burdens and strengthen future optimism. As an artist, McLauchlan is acutely aware of how she has been informed by the generations who have preceded her and how her actions in the present will inform the generations who will follow.

This exhibition is part of the Art Gallery’s Contemporary Projects series, which highlights the work of artists from NSW.

The Art Gallery of New South Wales gratefully acknowledges the support of Contemporary Projects patrons Andrew and Cathy Cameron.