The Broadspectrum Office is located in central North Sydney, dealing with design, funding, construction, operation and the maintenance of major projects and infrastructure assets across diverse industries. With an Indigenous Employment Program already in place, Broadspectrum is well aware of the importance of engaging with Indigenous Peoples in business and the importance of economic inclusion for Indigenous Peoples. With Broadspectrum’s clear support of Indigenous aspects of business Winya worked hard to make sure their office aesthetic reflected their involvement and support in Indigenous Business.
Winya incorporated beautiful Indigenous art pieces within the furniture created for the North Sydney office. The combination of the Kalimna visitor chair with the Redfern slat side table in the reception area in the entry area creates an inviting atmosphere while simultaneously drawing interest and attention to these focal pieces. While the stories depicted on the chairs are from different regions and display different Dreaming stories the colours work together to create a cohesive aesthetic.
The chair on the right depicts two dog ancestors, a Jampijinpa and a Napangardi, travelled from the west to the east. At Tapu (a rockhole), the two dogs separated. The female dog, Napangardi, went to the south. The male dog, Jampijinpa, went to the north. Eventually he became lonely and howled for Napangardi in the south. She came running to him, and they married each other at Ngarnka. They wore men’s and women’s marriage headdresses, and Jampijinpa painted himself with white clay for the ceremony. The two dogs continued running east, before arriving in Warlaku (Ali Curung). Many other dogs were living in Warlaku when they arrived. There were many families of dogs, mothers and fathers and children and uncles all living together. Jampijinpa and Napangardi made a burrow to rest in and started a big family of dogs there. They chose to stay in Warlaku and live with all the other dogs. In this way, the ‘malikijarra Jukurrpa’ (two dogs Dreaming) tells the story of proper conduct in families and marriages. The chair on the left depicts Pikilyi, an important natural spring and water-hole at Mt Doreen Station in the Northern Territory. Pikilyi is the home of two rainbow serpents, a married couple. The wife was a Napananka skin group and the husband a Japangardi, a taboo relationship in the Walpri culture. The serpents are the “kirda’ traditional owners of that country.
Winya also introduced several huddle spaces featuring the Redfern round coffee table and our bespoke black topped Indigenous art ottomans, while the art pieces featured are from separate regions and depict different Dreaming stories the black tops unify them making the overall aesthetic cohesive and appealing.