Exhibitions

I Am xhibition — New Works by Wild Barra Co. | March 2026

In March 2026, Wild Barra Co. presents I Am xhibition, a landmark series of new artworks that speak to identity, memory, and cultural continuity across sea, land, and freshwater Country. Curated and led by Shaun Edwards, the exhibition brings together sculptural forms, textile works, fragrances, and ceremonial objects that reflect a magnetic ancient energy.

A Living Statement of Identity

“I Am xhibition” is not just a display of artworks—it’s a declaration. Each piece begins from the statement “I am…”—a simple phrase that opens into multiple layers of belonging: I am saltwater. I am freshwater. I am ancestor. I am country. Through this lens, the exhibition becomes a living conversation between the individual and the collective, between body and Country, and between ancient story and contemporary expression.

Wild Barra Co. continues its practice of merging traditional knowledge systems with contemporary design. The new series draws from ancestral Kokoberrin stories, ecological patterns, and family lineages, creating works that hold both personal narrative and community resonance, each work is grounded in the textures and energies of ancestry.

Artworks Rooted in Story and Material

At the heart of the exhibition is a series of printed textiles that reinterpret ancestral markings and seasonal cycles. Using natural dyes derived from ochre, mangrove bark, and pandanus, these textiles recall the old practice of mapping Country through surface design. Each pattern tells a story—of wind, current, and kin—anchoring contemporary fashion in the ethics of custodianship.

A sensory layer is added through fragrance design, a signature aspect of Wild Barra Co.’s creative practice. Custom scents accompany the works, transforming the xhibition into an immersive environment. 

Themes of Self-Determination and Continuity

“I Am xhibition” continues Shaun Edwards’ long-standing commitment to Indigenous self-determination in both the creative and public-health spheres. The exhibition asks how identity is lived, protected, and renewed across generations. It acknowledges the complexity of being a First Nations artist navigating multiple worlds—traditional knowledge, contemporary art systems, and community responsibility.

In Edwards’ words:

“The statement ‘I am’ is both simple and infinite. It’s how we name ourselves, how we recognise Country inside us, and how we refuse erasure. Each artwork carries that declaration—it’s a way of saying we are still here, still creating, still shaping our future.”

Exhibition Experience

“I Am xhibition” marks a new chapter in Shaun Edwards’ journey as both an artist and cultural practitioner. It signals the maturation of Wild Barra Co. as a creative house that can move seamlessly between fine art, design, and cultural production while staying grounded in First Nations sovereignty and Country-based philosophy.