Art piece to contain cultural heritage

AN ORDINARY shipping container given more than a splash of colour will soon be on display at Sturt Street as part of Ballarat Heritage Festival.

The container has received a dynamic overhaul courtesy of Wadawurrung artist Jenna Oldaker, whose decked the space out inside and out with the aim of creating an immersive experience.

“It’s telling the Wadawurrung dreamtime story of Bonan Youang and Terrinalum which is Mount Buninyong and Mount Elephant behind it,” she said.

“The idea behind it is we wanted people to be able to enter into the unit and leave having had a fully immersive experience around Wadawurrung history and culture.

“It’s a fully transformed and immersive display featuring audio, visual, and sensory storytelling.”

With the whole of the six-metre-long container covered in visual art, the end result is amplified with sensory boxes as well as text and audio all created by Oldaker.

“It’s even me playing the clap sticks on the recording,” she said.

“Even having the recordings there was really important to me to have this be for all abilities.”

Commissioned by the City of Ballarat, the project marks

Oldaker’s first time being involved in Heritage Festival and she said it’s important for people to see the city’s history extending beyond colonialism.

“The city’s been very respectful in ensuring all stories are told,” she said.

“I think people can sort of associate Ballarat with a very colonial heritage. It’ll be an exciting thing for the community and something for everyone.”

The container will be located at the front of Accent Framing and Fine Art from May 17 to May 26 and will open each day from 9am to 7pm.