Artworks will be available to be collected or shipped from Koorie Heritage Trust from Tuesday 24 February 2026 once the exhibition has closed. See our FAQ for more info.


Ally Knight (she/her), Yorta Yorta, Dja Dja Wurrung, and Kamilaroi
Biggarumdja Woka (‘Emu Country’ in Yorta Yorta language), 2025
emu egg, emu feathers, raffia and synthetic polymer paint
3 parts: 14.5 x 33 x 32.5 cm; 13.5 x 33 x 33 cm; 13.5 x 33 x 35 cm

For me, using materials from the land is central to everything I create. This work, Bigarrumdja Woka (Emu Country), a set of three hand-painted emu eggs, sit cradled in a bed of emu feathers, symbolising the deep and unbreakable connection between land, life, and spirit. The intricate patterns reflect the winding paths of Country, our rivers, songlines, and the stories carried through generations. My work is a tribute to the strength of our Ancestors, the beauty of our lands, and the stories that live on through us.

This work draws inspiration from the emus that roam freely across Yorta Yorta Country, particularly near the Barmah red gum forest and the Cummeragunja mission, a place of rich history on Yorta Yorta Country. Ally speaks of the joy in watching them run across Country, “they are powerful, graceful, and deeply connected to place.” Yet their presence also carries reminders of disruption. Colonisation and climate change have impacted their ability to breed when needed, and while herds still run wild, their cycles and patterns of life have been disturbed.

Through this piece, Ally wishes to honour the bigarrumdja (emu) as a cultural and spiritual being but also to reflect on the resilience of Yorta Yorta Country and its interconnected systems. Like much of her practice, this work holds memory, celebrates strength, and speaks to the urgent need for cultural and ecological care for Country.