Reclaim the Void was born from Ngalia elders in Leonora, Western Australia, expressing their pain and grief at ‘those gaping mining holes left all over our country’. The idea was conceived by Vivienne Robertson to symbolically ‘seal’ one of the holes with an artwork expressing the story of country. Over 10 years Vivienne and Kado & Deeva Muir, from the Ngalia Heritage Research Council Aboriginal Corporation, based in Leonora, discussed, waited and then announced the collaborative project.

Country is alive with story, song, dance, law, Tjukurrpa. When we wound country, we wound ourselves, and end up with a scarred physical and cultural landscape. This project carries the desire for healing country, healing community, and healing ourselves. It is about acknowledging the hurt and contributing to restoration. It offers people the chance to learn about country and culture.

The vision is to create a large-scale ‘dot’ artwork, inspired by passed Ngalia cultural leader DW’s original painting Tui. It will be made of thousands of handmade circular rag-rugs woven from discarded fabric. Woven by people from all walks of life and backgrounds, the rugs will be joined together into a giant textile artwork which shows an overall pattern that carries the story of the Tjukurrpa of the country on which the artwork is laid.

Reclaim the Void is a bold cross-cultural project. It seeks to raise awareness of the story of country and its importance in Aboriginal culture in both its physical and spiritual dimensions. We invite you to join us.

Reclaim the Void weaves a connection for spirit on sacred lands  | Likirri wiya palyara tjiltilku pimarra parnaku

We needed a lot of rugs! 3,000 or maybe more!! So far we have around 2,500 rugs, contributed from communities all over Australia, and around the world. Each one carries the beauty of intent and care that has been woven in.

We are developing a ‘rugalogue’ which will catalogue each rug made, and the stories, poems, images and words that the maker may choose to accompany their rug. The final artwork will include the tapestry of stories of all the people who have contributed to it, and will be a story in its own right, of our collective love, respect, and wish to care for country.

This project already has a life beyond any tangible outcome. It’s the journey, the story, the healing and symbolic reclaiming, the acknowledgement of careless over-consumption at others’ expense, that is central to Reclaim the Void. The concept and intention behind the project is critical. It’s a conversation about caring for country and its custodians, and it invites everyone to be part of that through small-scale acts that collectively make something very special.

This project isn’t ‘anti-mining’, it’s about walking forwards together in an act of healing, caring for country and community engagement. One way or another, guided by cultural protocols and the practical possibilities, the final artwork will be brought to life on the country for which it was created - a symbol of hope and healing.

In the words of project partner and Ngalia cultural leader Kado Muir: “We’re working at a cultural and sacred level, creating a community of people each weaving their stories, contributing to an artwork that makes a statement about reclaiming the spirit of earth.”