Museum of Brisbane Artist in Residence: Delvene Cockatoo-Collins

Museum of Brisbane’s Creative Space is being reshaped by Quandamooka artist Delvene Cockatoo-Collins, who brings the ancestral story of Warrajamba, the mermaid, into the heart of the museum. Opening on Saturday March 28, the residency invites visitors to pause and spend time with story, culture and Country through an immersive installation.

A proud woman of the Nunukul, Goenpul and Ngugi peoples, Delvene continues her search for the lost ending of Warrajamba’s tale, which was passed down through her grandmother Bethel Delaney and mother Evelyn Parkin. Inside the space, this generational story comes to life through Delvene’s soaring sculptural work, made from natural materials gathered from Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) including yungair/yungaire (freshwater reed), talwalpin (beach hibiscus cotton tree) and quampie shells. 

Visitors are invited to get hands-on with free making activities, including creating their own mermaid or dugong ‘peg dolls’ using stamps that feature designs by Delvene, while workshops and school holiday sessions will offer opportunities to connect more deeply with Delvene’s practice across the year.

Marking ten years of MoB’s Artist in Residence program, this project is both a celebration of cultural continuity and an invitation to join Delvene on her quest to find Warrajamba.

MoB’s Artist in Residence program is supported by Tim Fairfax AC. The Creative Space is proudly supported by major partner Brisbane Airport and generously supported by Ian and Cass George, and Holly and John Livingstone. Warrajamba is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.

Images: Vivid Visual Co