Wer Wer (Boundaries)
1 August - 14 September 2025
Wer Wer (Boundaries)
Gail Mabo
Gail Mabo, Wer Wer 1, 2025, Drypoint etching and collagraph print on 300gsm Hahnemühle etching paper, 75 x 98.5cm, Edition 1/4. Photograph: Amanda Galea.
This body of work combines new prints by Gail Mabo which translate repurposed archival mark-making by her father, Eddie Koiki Mabo. Gail Mabo developed these works during an intensive printmaking residency in The Studio at Umbrella, collaboratively printing with technical assistance by Dian Darmansjah, an artist, master printmaker and the Printmaking Coordinator at NorthSite Contemporary Arts in Gimuy / Cairns. Mabo was introduced to carborundum collagraph and drypoint etching techniques, resulting in a highly textured, sophisticated new series which expands her practice into new territory.
“Wer Wer pays honour to my father, Edward Koiki Mabo, for the right of showing boundary markers between families and understanding the rightful owners of land on Mer / Murray Island. These maps are my interpretation of my father’s hand drawn maps which haven’t been seen before except during his court case. My father’s maps are now part of the National Library collection in the Mabo Papers.”
– Gail Mabo, 2025
This project is supported by the Regional Arts Development Fund, a partnership between the Queensland Government and the Townsville City Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.
Gail Mabo is a multidisciplinary artist working across sculpture, installation, printmaking and painting. In 2023 she was commissioned to create a new video projection work for the Opera House by the Biennale of Sydney, and the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain. Her work is held in Art Gallery of New South Wales, Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art, National Gallery Australia and Artbank among other collections of national and international significance.
Also on display during this period
All Exhibitions1 August -
14 September 2025
Open Hours
Tues - Fri: 9am-5pm
Sat - Sun: 9am-1pm
Gallery closed Mondays, public holidays and during exhibition install weeks.
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Contact
408 Flinders Street,
Gurambilbarra (Townsville),
Qld, 4810 Australia
PO Box 2394,
Gurambilbarra (Townsville),
Qld, 4810 Australia
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Acknowledgement of Country
Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts respectfully acknowledges the Wulgurukaba of Gurambilbarra and Yunbenun and the surrounding groups of our region - Bindal, Gugu Badhan, Nywaigi, Warrgamay, Bandjin and Gudjal - as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we gather, share and celebrate local creative practice. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the first people of Australia. They have never ceded sovereignty and remain strong in their enduring connection to land and Culture.
Umbrella is a Member & Signatory of the Indigenous Art Code. This means we are committed to fair and ethical trade with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, and transparency in the promotion and sale of artwork. As a Dealer Member and signatory to the Code we must act fairly, honestly, professionally and in good conscience in all direct or indirect dealings with artists.
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Acknowledgements
Umbrella is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, part of the Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy, and by the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy, an initiative of the Australian, state and territory governments. | Umbrella is supported by the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation and receives funding from Creative Australia through the Australian Cultural Fund. | Townsville City Council is a funding partner of Umbrella's program.
