The ceiling depicts the story of the emu in the sky. The colours of the painting are black and white, which the artist explains are his signature colours: ‘My work relates to what I see in the landscape all around me in Barkandji country. For me, Australia is a black and white country. Barkandji country [is] not colourful all year long, and not anything like Central Desert country and its art of many colours.’ The gap between the top of the gates and the ceiling acts as a metaphor for the transition from day to night, and from earth to sky. Quoting Bates, ‘Day and earth will be the province of the gates, and night and sky of the ceiling painting above.’
The Ngatyi, Seven Sisters, eagle, crow, and emu in the sky are stories shared by Aboriginal people Australiawide. Bates may tell them in a Barkandji way, but they are universal. Apparent to any observer, Bates has achieved everything he set out to do when he said at the start of the project: ‘I want to encourage other Aboriginal people and everyone walking past the gates to have a look, identify with and share the creation stories, look up at the ceiling, and feel encouraged to go into the building.’
Text by Barbara Flynn, February 2022