[This article was written in collaboration with Ochre-Rain, an innovative Aboriginal-owned consultancy based in lutruwita / Tasmania.]

Bianca’s grandmother was born and raised on truwana / Cape Barren Island. Bianca was enriched with stories of her grandmother’s life and music from her childhood. Her grandmother has always had a strong connection to Country and an enriched cultural knowledge, which she has passed down to her family.  As a small child, Bianca’s grandmother taught her how to shell by watching her grandmother string rice shells and toothies.

In the last 4 years, through encouragement from her Grandmother and Elders, Bianca has begun shelling again and moving into other practices, such as making baskets, water carriers and creating contemporary jewellery and paintings utilising the petroglyphs of the palawa/pakana people.

As an artist and proud pakana woman, Bianca wants to use this work to help people understand that Aboriginal Cultural practices are not ancient, but are adaptive and highly contemporary and continue to this day.

"They can't beat us. We will change the world." 

 Images of Bianca's artwork, which can be found at BlackSpace Creative and takamuna rrala designs.  

Bianca’s passion as an artist, a proud pakana woman, and a social worker is well known throughout her community. Bianca has worked with organisations such as the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, and facilitated many community sessions to inspire young people to learn more about Aboriginal Culture, including the Come Walk With Us sessions and the Launceston Black Lives Matter vigil. In 2020, Bianca was the recipient of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Youth of the Year Award at the NAIDOC awards, and in 2021, Bianca won the First Nations People Achievement Award under the Tasmanian Young Achiever Awards. 

Hydro Tasmania is excited to announce that we have commissioned an artwork from Bianca that celebrates the connection to Country of Aboriginal peoples in lutruwita. The artwork, ‘From Coast to Country’, represents the nine Aboriginal nations of lutruwita that lived here before colonisation. These are each represented by an object made from cast resin coloured with ochre and set with pearlescent crushed maireener shells.

Collecting ochre and shells has sometimes been understood as women's business. Many strong Aboriginal women, including Bianca's grandmother, have taught Bianca about working with ochre, different techniques for weaving grasses, and stringing maireener shells. These women pass on their knowledge through Bianca. 

Bianca with her finished artwork 'From Coast to Country', proudly on display at Hydro Tasmania's head office in Hobart. 

The diversity of different materials used represents the diversity of life in lutruwita pre-colonisation, but also post - from Emu feathers, which existed here before colonisation to kookaburra - an Australian native introduced to lutruwita, and more recognisable everyday birds such as ducks. Bianca also uses river reed - a traditional material that is susceptible to environmental impact, alongside other introduced species such as flax and utilising contemporary weaving methods such as the use of raffia to replace grass.

We have produced a video series with Bianca, which tells her story growing up as a proud pakana woman and artist, and the rich stories behind her artwork. Watch them below. 

Hydro Tasmania acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of Country throughout Australia, as well as First Nations people from elsewhere, and their ongoing connection to Country and custodianship of the land, seas and waters. We acknowledge that we have a responsibility to care for Country where our sites are located and are committed to continuing learning from First Nations people. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and appreciate their generosity in sharing knowledge and Culture.