The Garden Path

The Garden Path is a permanent public mural that reflects the natural world of Yerrabigin House's rooftop and surrounding gardens. The designs are inspired by the spectrum of native edibles, plants and grasses and the wonderful bees that are so important to the health of the local ecosystem.

Commissioned by South Eveleigh, this work anchors the B3 building with a unique sense of place, sprinkling a visual invitation to lead visitors up The Garden Path and discover the community facilities.

The Garden Path is a fun discovery for children and big kids... so make your way down to South Eveleigh and explore.

This stunning bright and bold public work is by Maddie Gibbs + Jason Wing + Community.

Maddison Gibbs, Barkindji, Dubbo, NSW. Contemporary Aboriginal artist, activist art, people and surroundings, stories of past and present by using contemporary methods and ideologies. Works include political statements and educational information regarding aboriginal Australia.

Maddie was mentored by Jason Wing and supported by over 15 first nations and non-first nations artists and volunteers to bring this work to life.

ARTIST STATEMENT: MADDIE GIBBS

One of the first Aboriginal lessons as a child is to sit down with elders, slow down and listen. This was the initial concept for the work. To sit, listen and honour our flora brothers and sisters and visually return them to the site where they once existed.

Conceptually the process of slowing down listening and interpreting my lived experiences in a conversation and channeling this energy into my illustrations. The cyclical praxis of my work informs returning the imagery from the land back to the site where sourced. 

Often botanical drawings are informed and defined by non Aboriginal people since colonisation. It is vital that Aboriginal people are in control of Aboriginal content and narratives and visual expression etc. This is an act of visually reclaiming, informing and educating.

The Australian Native bee is referenced throughout the design and acts as a guide through the garden journey. The native bee is stingless and represents Aboriginal culture and the interconnectedness of plants, humans and all living things caring for each other and returning what we take from the earth.

Informing public space with Aboriginal content to celebrate dual histories of Australia and celebrating the oldest living culture in the world.