Reconciliation Action Plan | BALARINJI Indigenous Design and Strategy

Balarinji designed a Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) for global industrial property group, Goodman based on a bespoke artwork by Aboriginal artist Danielle Mate.

In developing the RAP, Goodman’s goal was to create meaningful and tangible outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation in its business and communities more broadly.

Goodman identified an opportunity to listen, learn and walk alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to ensure its activities support continuing connection to land, waters, cultures, languages and traditions.

The artwork was created to recognise the history that connects a place and people. It references raw materials like timber, grass and ochre. Layers signal the story of past, present and future. The U shapes are a traditional symbol representing people, facing opposite directions to denote male and female. The centre circles are a traditional symbol representing a meeting place, in this case, Goodman.

Using lines, the artwork demonstrates the traditional craft of weaving and the use of natural materials. When something is woven it becomes stronger; it brings in an element of strength and growth.

The horizontal lines represent the earth, Mother Earth, layers of earth, time and history. The vertical lines add a new layer of history. These lines are not complete – a nod to Goodman’s RAP journey which is still in progress.

Danielle Mate

Danielle is a descendant of the Murrawarri People on her Grandmother’s side and the Euahlayi People on her Grandfather’s side. Danielle Mate has held numerous private exhibitions in NSW, QLD and the ACT and in 2012, Danielle’s work became part of the Private Collection of The American Ambassador in Canberra ACT and President Obama’s Private Collection, The White House, Washington DC. Danielle found an early connection with art while at school and describes this time as a period of personal expression and learning about her own culture in an environment where identifying as a young Aboriginal person in a predominantly non-Aboriginal urban community was a difficult thing to do. Danielle has a Bachelor of Arts (Visual Arts and Design) from the University of Wollongong in NSW. Danielle says, ‘for thousands of years, Aboriginal people have been using symbolism and art forms to communicate and recount stories, and have not been reliant on the use of labelling or using paragraphs of words to share stories.’ Danielle creates art that is relevant to where she is from, where she has been and where she is at in her current belonging.