Gur. Ngurra. Wir. highlights the interconnectedness and overlapping nature of the work we do. It represents 3 layers of Indigenous Country: Land, Sea, and Sky and emphasises the holistic concept of Country.
The artwork underpins our visual identity.
About the artists
Jimi. K Thaiday
Jimi.K Thaiday is a proud Peiuduram Le from Erub, Darnley Island. Born in Cairns and raised on Erub, Jimi’s tribe, Peiudu, is one of the four tribes of Erub. His totems are the Waumer, (frigate bird) and the Dabor (mackerel).
Jimi’s artistic practices have been inspired by his Indigenous heritage, livelihood, and the environment in which he lives.
The cultural traditions that have been passed on and taught through generations have had a strong influence on Jimi’s work. His personal experiences have also influenced his ideas and artistic practice.
Jimi’s families have always supported and encouraged his artistic practice, giving him the confidence and motivation to continue his creative practice.
Daniel Apps
Daniel Apps is a Dharug Boorooberongal Australian artist and designer.
Daniel’s exploration of photography, design and mixed media began while he grew up in the bush on Yuin Country west of Jervis Bay.
Daniel’s desire to create unique and vibrant artwork has seen him succeed artistically from a young age. Daniel excelled in creative subjects throughout high school, and he went on to study communication design where he refined his skills in digital design.
Daniel uses art as an escape from the pressures of city living, capturing inspiring moments on canvas to stimulate the emotions of his audience.
Bec Salcole
Bec Salcole is a proud Wiradjuri Woman, born and raised in Wagga Wagga in Southern New South Wales. She is now living and creating on Kombumerri Country.
Bec’s dad and grandmother, both painters, encouraged her creativity. She was always surrounded by art and was encouraged to explore her own style and medium, which is always evolving.
Art has always been a healing process for Bec. Her art is inspired by what she sees in Country and her personal experiences.
Since having her children, Bec found less and less time to paint without little hands trying to help, so she began to experiment with digital art and fell in love with the process.
About the artwork - the artists' story
Human impact and Climate Change are felt across all layers of Country. They are interconnected in ways in which western science may never fully understand. The shape is an abstract landscape rippling out from the centre. This symbolises how these impacts cascade through Country like a ripple. What happens on the land impacts the sea and this flows on and affects the sky.
Section
Each layer symbolises the geographical spread of Australia’s landscape with the desert at the core. Spreading out into our grasslands and waterways, to our tropical rainforest and dense temperate forests. Then surrounded by our oceans and beyond, to reef and Torres Strait Islands in the north and down to the Antarctic in the South.
A meeting place symbol, with people gathering is at the centre of the artwork. This represents community and Country as the heart of our department. As we strive to create an Australia that is prosperous because it is sustainable.
Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander symbols illustrate layers of Country along flowing circular shapes sharing the story of interconnected ecosystems in Australia. The intricate details highlight the diverse nature of Country across Australia. The use of strong contrasting colours and patterns represent the vast colours of Australia’s landscape and help to give a vibrant visual.
Every time you look at the artwork, you will find something you hadn’t seen before. Much like travelling across Australia, there is always something new to see.
Caring for Country is at the core of our commitment to battling climate change and fostering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices as leaders in land management and cultural knowledge. There are key green energy elements such as wind turbines, solar panels and elements from the snowy hydro scheme. These convey our commitment in transitioning to a green energy system and to net zero emissions.
You can find 27 meeting places on the lower part of the forest (green) layer. These represent our current state and the journey we are all on. The journey to drive climate action, science, and innovation so we, as a country, are ready for the future.
We have incorporated animals throughout the artwork. Some have significant meaning to us, and some from our priority threatened species list. This highlights the fragile nature of Australia’s ecosystems and our commitment to conserve, protect, and sustainably manage our environment and water resources through a nature positive approach.
The making of the artwork
Watch the making of the artwork - Gur. Ngurra. Wir., 2023.
Daniel Apps: So my name is Daniel Apps. My family are Dharug Boorooberongal who are the traditional owners of Western Sydney. However, I grew up on Yuin Country, which is down in Jervis Bay.
My team work in Parks Australia. We are the Indigenous Employment Pathways Team.
Jimi. K Thaiday: I'm Jimi.K Thaiday. I’m an Indigenous artist from Erub Island, which is here in the eastern region of Torres Strait. My tribe is Peiudu. Peiudu is one of 4 tribes on the island of Erub.
Bec Salcole: My name's Bec Salcole. I'm a Wiradjuri Woman from Wagga Wagga in southwest New South Wales. I’ve worked for the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder since 2017. I've worked in a variety of roles, but currently I work in First Nations engagement and policy development within the Murray-Darling Basin.
Narrator 1: Our artwork represents the layers of country, land, sea and sky. This is represented through a contemporary landscape, rippling out from the centre like the Earth's core, through each layer of country to the sky with people at the centre. The layers also represent the geographical spread of Australia. Starting with the desert in the centre rippling out through to our tropical rainforests and beyond, to the Torres Strait in the north and the Antarctic in the south.
Human and climate change impacts are felt across all layers of country as they are interconnected in ways in which Western society may never fully understand. These impacts cascade out like a ripple. What happens on the land affects the sea and the ripple flows from the sea and affects the sky.
Caring for country is at the core of DCCEEWs commitment to battling climate change and fostering First Nations voices as leaders in land management and cultural knowledge.
Narrator 2: Key elements such as wind turbines, solar panels and elements from the Snowy Hydro Scheme, display DCCEEWs commitment to the energy transition towards a green energy system and commitment to net zero emissions.
Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander symbols illustrate layers of country along flowing circular shapes, sharing the story of interconnected ecosystems in Australia. The use of strong contrasted colours and pattern represent the vast colours of Australia's landscape and help give a vibrant and exciting visual for the audience.
We have incorporated animals from the DCCEEWs Priority Threatened Species list to highlight the fragile nature of our country's ecosystems and the commitment from our Government to conserve, protect and sustainably manage our environment and water resources through a nature positive approach.
Bec Salcole: Working on this artwork has been an amazing opportunity to be able to be recognised as an employee and an artist and being able to combine those two things.
Daniel Apps: It means a lot, being an employee, given the opportunity to do something on such a grand scale.
I'm really proud of it. I think it's a beautiful piece of work.
Jimi. K Thaiday: Collaborating with the other 2 Indigenous artists was was quite special because of the fact that, you know, it represents myself as a Torres Strait Islander, as as someone that's, you know, living on the island and yeah, depicting that into into that digital art form was, was deadly.
Bec Salcole: To have the opportunity to collaborate with other artists. So working with Daniel and with Jimi and being able to incorporate all of our different artwork styles, just been such an amazing opportunity that I don't think I'll ever get again to try and bring such a big artwork together and be able to pull it off in what I think is a really beautiful way.
Find out more about our work
Read more about What we do.
Read more about our Statement of Commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Permitted use of the artwork
The Department of Climate Change, Energy the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) acknowledges that Daniel Apps, Bec Salcole and Jimi.K Thaiday are the artists and the owners of the intellectual property of the artwork, Gur. Ngurra. Wir (Sea. Land. Sky), 2023.
Daniel Apps, Bec Salcole and Jimi.K Thaiday and DCCEEW have a licence agreement in place. The agreement provides DCCEEW with a licence to use the artwork and its graphic elements on agreed terms.
No-one else is permitted to use or reproduce the artwork or any of its graphic elements without express written permission from the DCCEEW and in accordance with the licence agreement.
Attribution and copyright notice for the artwork
© Daniel Apps, Bec Salcole, Jimi.K Thaiday, Gur. Ngurra. Wir (Sea. Land. Sky) 2023.