Amanda Bell

Born 1965, Whadjuk Country, Western Australia

Badimia (Yamatji) and Yued (Nyoongar) Peoples, Western Australia

From our lip, mouths, throats and belly, 2021
neon glass, audio
158 x 300 x 6 cm
Edition 3 of 3
Courtesy of City of Fremantle Public Art Collection

Amanda is a Badimia (Yamatji) and Yued (Nyoongar) woman, born on Whadjuk Country, who lives and works on Wardandi Country, by the sea. Amanda has a diverse creative repertoire and works with sculptural materials, video, sound, textiles, found objects, and most recently neon glass lighting. Her works are ambitious and experimental, and with them she aims to “try new ways of telling stories that are sometimes uncomfortable and painful, sometimes fun and frivolous.”

In this new work From our mouths, lips, throats and belly, the artist had a vision of a beautiful Nyoongar word “as old as Boodja and as new as now, shining for all to see. Fragile, beautiful and strong. I honour this word, this Country and our people. Moorditj! (Good).”

Pause for a moment and listen to our ancient Nyoongar language as it is spoken in the same way it has been for thousands of years.

The artist wishes to acknowledge:

Auntie Gloria Hill, Wadandi Elder and Aunty Lola Garlett,
Cultural advisors and Storytelling
George Aitken, Neon fabrication
Peter Jago, Technical design
Lincoln MacKinnon, Sound design

Recorded in Andalup (Busselton), on Wardandi Country. This work was made with support from the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.