The Koorie Heritage Trust (KHT) is set to present Journey Among Men, a new exhibition of cultural belongings which brings together eight emerging and established First Nations artists in a powerful exploration of culture, connection and wellbeing.

Journey Among Men is designed as a therapeutic tool to support the mental health of men in community through a mentoring and development phase on Country.

Developed over a two-year period, the project brought artists together on Country across Victoria to share cultural knowledge, creative practice and lived experience. The exhibition represents the culmination of this shared journey.

The exhibition features new works by emerging artists Earl Handy, Mitchil Harding, Cahill Kennedy, Iluka Sax-Williams and Lewis Wandin-Bursill, alongside established artists Mick Harding, Brendan Kennedy and Kevin Williams.

Together, the artists share deeply personal expressions of self, family, culture, connection and Country through contemporary cultural practice.

Journey Among Men demonstrates the importance of intergenerational knowledge-sharing and the value of creating together on Country.

Developed as a mentoring and cultural development program for First Nations men, it fostered the exchange of cultural knowledge, creative practice and lived experience while supporting participants to strengthen cultural connections, build skills and confidence, and develop meaningful relationships.

First Nations communities across Australia have long used art and storytelling to connect, learn and pass on cultural knowledge, values and beliefs as an expression of identity and culture, art supports self-expression, self-determination and a deeper understanding of self and community.

Drawing on these traditions, Journey Among Men recognises the important role which cultural practice can play in supporting social and emotional wellbeing.

Through time spent on Country, making, learning and sharing together, participants created spaces for connection, reflection and healing while strengthening cultural identity and belonging.

This exhibition showcases the artworks, stories and experiences that emerged through the process.

Artists were commissioned to create cultural belongings using materials sourced from Country and techniques including carving, incising, burning and pigment application.

The resulting works have evolved through mentoring relationships, engagement with historical collections and ongoing connections to family, community and Country.

"What I have found over the years is that a lot of young men - and they're older men now - just being around the older fellas, they pick up things from them, learning how to make artefacts, boomerangs and things like that," said Kevin Williams in conversation with Mick Harding and Brendan Kennedy.

"Some of them are still doing that to this day."

Bridging "the old" and "the new," Journey Among Men foregrounds the continuity and living presence of First Peoples cultural practice while challenging colonial museological approaches to display and interpretation.

Rather than positioning cultural belongings as historical artefacts, the exhibition presents them as expressions of a living, evolving and enduring culture.

An exhibition catalogue and accompanying film have also been produced as part of Journey Among Men.

"I extend my deepest thanks to all participating artists for their generosity, dedication and ongoing collaboration throughout this program and the development of the exhibition and accompanying publication," Koorie Heritage Trust chief executive officer Tom Mosby said.

"Their willingness to share cultural knowledge, artistic practice and lived experience has shaped a powerful exhibition that celebrates culture, resilience and connection.

"This exhibition is a testament not only to the continuation of cultural knowledge, but also to the positive impact that cultural practice and community connection can have on wellbeing."

KHT acknowledged the support of exhibition partners Creative Victoria, City of Melbourne, Creative Australia, Viva Energy Australia and the Leukaemia Foundation.

The exhibition has also received assistance from NETS Victoria through the 2025 Exhibition Development Fund, was supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria, as well as with funding from the Australian Government's Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support Program and Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property funding stream.

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