Merinda’s creativity pays homage to the Cairns region
News
Across 45 days, 230 hours and with 250,000 painted dots, proud Kamilaroi *Yinarr (*Aboriginal Woman) Merinda Walters created her first corporate piece of Aboriginal artwork entitled Ngaarribiyan Dhawun or, Northern Lands.
Across 45 days, 230 hours and with 250,000 painted dots, proud Kamilaroi *Yinarr (*Aboriginal Woman) Merinda Walters created her first corporate piece of Aboriginal artwork entitled Ngaarribiyan Dhawun or, Northern Lands.
The piece pays homage to the Cairns region and was purpose-created to sit in our Cairns office reception as a visual reminder of reconciliation. Merinda is a Graduate Environmental Scientist in our Northern Australia region, and first joined GHD as a CareerTrackers intern in 2019. We were thrilled to commission and unveil her masterpiece during National Reconciliation Week 2022. Below, Merinda tells us more about the artwork, herself and her career so far.
For me to graduate high school, go to university, join a global business and have one of my pieces displayed in an office that I work in is something I hope some of the kids from my hometown of Karumba might see and realise that there is space for them in companies like GHD too.
Tell us about the process of creating Ngaarribiyan Dhawun
Ngaarribiyan Dhawun (Pronounced Naah-ree-be-yun Da-wun) was my first opportunity to create a big artwork for a corporate space. Before this I’d always done small canvas pieces or jewellery. When I started this painting, I had the initial idea and was wondering how I was going to fit so many different things in the space.
I ended up working through everything backwards in the painting. The starting point is Cairns, then you zoom out and you have the river systems which connect the five large offices in GHD’s Northern Australia region. Then outwards again you can see the meeting circles which represent GHD’s five market sectors.
Overall, this was the biggest challenge I’ve had to date as far as my artwork goes, but it has helped me grow so much as an artist. I can see my growth as an artist when I look at this piece compared to earlier ones – it has really shown me what I’m capable of.
I ended up working through everything backwards in the painting. The starting point is Cairns, then you zoom out and you have the river systems which connect the five large offices in GHD’s Northern Australia region. Then outwards again you can see the meeting circles which represent GHD’s five market sectors.
Overall, this was the biggest challenge I’ve had to date as far as my artwork goes, but it has helped me grow so much as an artist. I can see my growth as an artist when I look at this piece compared to earlier ones – it has really shown me what I’m capable of.
How does your work as a scientist, your talent as an artist, and your relationship with Country come together?
It’s a very practical connection to be honest. I’ve always wanted to be a scientist and naturally followed that path at school, but I’ve also been drawing, writing and telling stories for as long as I can remember. It is very much connected to my family on both sides.
From my non-Indigenous family, my mum, aunty and grandmother are all painters or artists of some description. Then on my dad’s side of the family, I have uncles who are artists that go out on Country to carve didgeridoos, paint landscapes and tell the story of our Country and our connection. I think my own style has been inherited from both sides of my family – a mix of European and Aboriginal styles that allow me to showcase my connection to Country.
I followed the example of my family – everyone was something else in addition to being artists – for example, they were teachers, administrators or mine workers. When I got to university it really clicked that I could bring my science and art together in my assessments. I’ve always blended being really creative with science. I want to figure things out and share knowledge in a way that connects with people.
From my non-Indigenous family, my mum, aunty and grandmother are all painters or artists of some description. Then on my dad’s side of the family, I have uncles who are artists that go out on Country to carve didgeridoos, paint landscapes and tell the story of our Country and our connection. I think my own style has been inherited from both sides of my family – a mix of European and Aboriginal styles that allow me to showcase my connection to Country.
I followed the example of my family – everyone was something else in addition to being artists – for example, they were teachers, administrators or mine workers. When I got to university it really clicked that I could bring my science and art together in my assessments. I’ve always blended being really creative with science. I want to figure things out and share knowledge in a way that connects with people.
What does it mean to you to combine your artistic and scientific skills in your career?
When I got my first position with GHD, a winter internship with the Natural Resources Management team in Brisbane via CareerTrackers, I didn’t know anything about environmental consultancy, and it was such an eye opener in so many ways. I joined a wonderful team who encouraged me to problem solve in creative and even artistic ways. So, when I got the chance to go back to GHD for a summer internship I immediately accepted.
To be able to paint something for an office that I’m hoping to be part of for a long time is quite special. The unveiling of the piece as part of our National Reconciliation Week celebrations was such an unreal feeling. There are so many people supporting me who really believe in GHD’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and in making a change for the better – this is such a tangible thing. This is our office and our story. This is something that I can do and something that I’m so proud of and it’s my way of starting conversations about reconciliation and art and the Indigenous culture and history we have in this country.
The thought that I’m going to make my Indigenous family proud, many of whom never had the opportunity to go to school or university and follow a path like the one I have, is incredibly special.
To be able to paint something for an office that I’m hoping to be part of for a long time is quite special. The unveiling of the piece as part of our National Reconciliation Week celebrations was such an unreal feeling. There are so many people supporting me who really believe in GHD’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and in making a change for the better – this is such a tangible thing. This is our office and our story. This is something that I can do and something that I’m so proud of and it’s my way of starting conversations about reconciliation and art and the Indigenous culture and history we have in this country.
The thought that I’m going to make my Indigenous family proud, many of whom never had the opportunity to go to school or university and follow a path like the one I have, is incredibly special.
What are your hopes for future generations of Indigenous kids who might be thinking about their careers?
For me to graduate high school, go to university, join a global business and have one of my pieces displayed in an office that I work in is something I hope some of the kids from my hometown of Kurumba might see and realise there is space for them in companies like GHD too.
For me success is becoming the person I needed when I was young – because chances are there is a kid who is in the same position I was in, who needs the support and example that I can provide now. I’m very motivated by doing the things I wish I had seen someone doing when I was a kid, so I’ve spent some time presenting at schools and yarning with kids about what they can achieve.
I love being able to go back home to Kurumba or talk to my cousins and friends and tell them that there is space for them in businesses like ours without needing to leave their culture at the door. As scientists and engineers, we’re going to be working on projects that need culture and cultural perspectives. We have such a plethora of cultural knowledge and it’s so interesting and satisfying to be able to use it in my work today.
It means the world to me to be able to hopefully inspire some kids to say, “I’m going to be loud and I’m going to be proud and I’m going to bring every part of me to work.”
For me success is becoming the person I needed when I was young – because chances are there is a kid who is in the same position I was in, who needs the support and example that I can provide now. I’m very motivated by doing the things I wish I had seen someone doing when I was a kid, so I’ve spent some time presenting at schools and yarning with kids about what they can achieve.
I love being able to go back home to Kurumba or talk to my cousins and friends and tell them that there is space for them in businesses like ours without needing to leave their culture at the door. As scientists and engineers, we’re going to be working on projects that need culture and cultural perspectives. We have such a plethora of cultural knowledge and it’s so interesting and satisfying to be able to use it in my work today.
It means the world to me to be able to hopefully inspire some kids to say, “I’m going to be loud and I’m going to be proud and I’m going to bring every part of me to work.”
The artwork explained
This piece pays homage to the Cairns region. From Walsh’s Pyramid overlooking mountain ranges to the Great Barrier Reef that shares our border. The iconic woven fish of the Cairns Esplanade dazzle against the mangroves, and the Wet Tropics World Heritage Rainforest rises to meet the glory of the Barron Falls.
The meeting circles in the top-left corner represent the five key markets that GHD operates in – Energy and Resources, Environment, Property & Buildings, Transport and Water.
The border combines the bends of the five rivers that flow through the cities of some of our Northern Australia offices. The Barron River for Cairns flows from top left to the right; the Ross River of Townsville connects the bottom right side of the Pioneer River of Mackay; which is joined to the Callipe River of the Gladstone in the bottom left. Finally, the Blackmore River of Darwin connects the left side and completes the journey through our region.
The meeting circles in the top-left corner represent the five key markets that GHD operates in – Energy and Resources, Environment, Property & Buildings, Transport and Water.
The border combines the bends of the five rivers that flow through the cities of some of our Northern Australia offices. The Barron River for Cairns flows from top left to the right; the Ross River of Townsville connects the bottom right side of the Pioneer River of Mackay; which is joined to the Callipe River of the Gladstone in the bottom left. Finally, the Blackmore River of Darwin connects the left side and completes the journey through our region.
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