Wurrunggi Biik-Law of the Land

Wurrunggi Biik-Law of the Land is a large-scale possum skin cloak with an intricate wedge tail eagle shaped spirit memory imprint made from cast iron.

The Wurrunggi Biik-Law of the Land public artwork is designed and produced by VC Indigenous Research Fellow Vicki Couzens in collaboration with Jeph Neale and Hilary Jackman. The public artwork is a powerful statement that through a focus on the concept of Sovereignty encourages engagement with the possibility of a shared future.

“Wurrunggi Biik-Law of the Land gives rise to the opportunity to be heard - the work inserting a visual and visceral presence in place, and evoking the etheric and spiritual. It is a reminder and representation of the ever presence of Aboriginal people, Ancestors, Spirit and the Law of the Land.As an assertion of Aboriginal sovereignty, this work of a ‘floating’ Possum Skin Cloak, inherently implies the presence of the wearer, and intends to be a reminder, a blessing and protection for all who share this space and place”

– Vicki Couzens

The artwork has been commissioned through the New Academic Street Project, Property Services Group and the RMIT Art Fund 2017, RMIT University Art Collection and co-curated and project managed by Grace Leone (PhD Student-School of Architecture and Urban Design) and Jessica Clark (Independent Curator and Master of Arts Management Graduate). 

The public artwork aims to encourage all peoples to engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sovereignties, cultures and laws and the possibility of a shared future through a focus on the concept of Sovereignty. As a public art commission that will permanently reside on Wurundjeri land at RMIT’s City campus, the commission will reflect the reality that people, custom and Country are inextricably linked - Indigenous and non-Indigenous.