Badu Gili: Story Keepers will light up the Sydney Opera House's eastern Bennelong sails nightly from sunset until March 2026, featuring the artworks of Gooniyandi Elder Mervyn Street and Inuk custodian Ningiukulu Teevee.
The instillation celebrates the third year of a partnership between the Opera House, Biennale of Sydney and the Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain as a vital pillar in the Opera House's First Nations program.
Badu Gili, meaning 'water light' in the Gadigal language of the Traditional Owners of Tubowgule (Bennelong Point), is a free nightly experience featuring vivid six-minute projections on the Opera House's eastern Bennelong sails.
It celebrates the richness of First Nations culture and stories expressed through contemporary and traditional artworks sourced from First Nations and Indigenous artists across Australia.
Announced last December, Story Keepers marks a new chapter in this experience. Curated by the Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain's First Nations Curatorial Fellow Bruce Johnson McLean, the free projection features artwork by Gooniyandi Elder Mervyn Street and Inuk custodian Ningiukulu Teevee. Sydney-based creative agency, Vandal, also animated the work of both artists to produce the mesmerising visual effect on the sails.
Mr Street's artworks are influenced by his life as a stockman in the Kimberley, and his ongoing advocacy for cultural preservation through language and living on Country.
"My mum and Dad used to work. My Dad was just like a slave working over and over, every day," Mr Street said.
"I'm going back through my history, I'm doing it for the people, doing it for everybody, not for myself. I'm passing on my knowledge.
"This was a big project. I didn't know it was going to go this far. It's been a long journey for my art, and now I can't believe I'm doing this with the Sydney Opera House. I'm giving my story to the people."
Similarly, Ningiukulu Teevee's art is founded in Inuit myths and legends, keeping traditional stories alive while providing a contemporary lens on Inuit culture.
"I am honoured to be part of this animation project, which brings to life the legend of The Owl and the Raven — a story that has stayed with me since childhood. I first heard it in school from an Elder whose storytelling captured my imagination," she said.
"The themes of curiosity, transformation, and the balance between patience and pride continue to inspire me. Through this animation, I explore how Raven's restless spirit and Owl's calm wisdom reflect human nature and the lessons found in our traditions.
"This work connects Inuit storytelling with contemporary art, celebrating the voices, memories and teachings that guide my creative journey."
At the heart of the project is a shared commitment to upholding Indigenous culture and history, a sentiment expressed by Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain First Nations Curatorial Fellow, Bruce Johnson McLean.
"It's been a real privilege to bring together two leading Indigenous artists from opposite sides of the world, from lands of heat and smoke and lands of snow and ice," he said.
"What unites these artists is their incredible commitment to holding and sharing the knowledge and histories of their communities.
"Story Keepers is a celebration of those members of our Indigenous communities who continue to share our stories and give voice to our memories."
Badu Gili: Story Keepers will light up the Opera House's eastern Bennelong sails every 30 minutes from 8:30 PM to 10:30 PM until 28 February.
