Hydro Tasmania’s nipaluna / Hobart headquarters have been brought alive with a permanent foyer installation from artist and proud pakana woman, Bianca Templar. 

Ms Templar’s work, From Coast to Country, is an expression of connection to, and Acknowledgement of, Country.

Hydro Tasmania has begun on a journey of working together with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to learn more about caring for Country.

The commissioning of Ms Templar’s artwork for Hydro Tasmania’s nipaluna / Hobart entrance comes after the installation of fellow Palawa artist Takira Simon-Brown’s work in the energy generator’s Melbourne office.

We are honoured to have works of two Palawa women now displayed prominently within our business.

Ms Templar is the proud descendant of the Trawlwoolway and Plangermaireener people of lutruwita, whose grandmother was born and raised on truwana / Cape Barren Island.

As a small child, Ms Templar learnt how to shell by watching her grandmother string rice shells and toothies.

From Coast to Country represents the nine Aboriginal nations or language groups of lutruwita that lived here for thousands of generations before colonisation. These are each represented by an object made from cast resin coloured with ochre and set with pearlescent crushed maireener shells.

The nine objects are arranged on the wall in the shape of a petroglyph, such as those carved into stone on the West Coast of lutruwita by the Old People.

“Not only does it mean a lot to me to have my artwork up there and have my story told, it’s amazing to see organisations such as Hydro Tasmania coming to community wanting our story to be told, wanting our stories up on the wall for people to stop and go ‘I need to know more about that’,” Ms Templar said.

“It’s been a beautiful process because I have felt so cared for, listened to, and respected.”

Hydro Tasmania‘s leadership has committed to developing a co-designed approach to achieve meaningful outcomes for Aboriginal people.

We have begun work with an Aboriginal-owned consultancy to guide us in developing this approach, and input from across the Aboriginal community will be key.

Our approach will take account of the activities Hydro Tasmania already participates in regard to Aboriginal heritage and engagement, as well as developing a set of actions as prioritised through our consultation.

Sarah Metcalf, Manager Engagement Programs at Hydro Tasmania, said it had been a pleasure working with Ms Templar and having the privilege to display her artwork.

“This is one of the ways that shows Hydro Tasmania’s commitment to working with and learning from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” she said.

“Bianca’s story and the story behind the artwork are an important contribution to increasing cultural awareness in our organisation.”  

Ms Templar is also one of 20 artists whose work forms part of the taypani milaythina-tu: Return to Country exhibition currently open at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. Hydro Tasmania is a proud publication partner of the exhibition.

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Released for Hydro Tasmania by Duncan Abey / 0409 722 359 / media@hydro.com.au