WILAY MULAA: Spirit of Light

Nathan Peckham and Nicholas Tory

Wilay Mulaa is currently installed at Burwood Library and Community Hub at 2 Conder Street, Burwood.

Project Description

Deep connection with country and cultural identity, a closer connection with the natural world and memories of family, cultural traditions and home, Wilay Mulaa are a collection of hand crafted traditional Chinese Lanterns, reimagined as contemporary art. Conceived by Nathan Peckham and Nicholas Tory as depictions of the possum Wilay’s spirit in the form of light, a collection of 10 possum spirits keep watch over the forest that was here before us, and will continue to be here after we are gone.

Wilay Mulaa was commissioned by Burwood Council as part of the commemorations for the Burwood Municipality’s Sesquicentenary in 2024. As the fifth most culturally diverse local government area in Australia, the project seeks to draw attention to the fact that our history and culture is vastly greater than 150 years old.

Wilay Mulaa represents Nathan’s artistry and experience as a Wiradjuri man descended from the Tubbah-Gah clan in western NSW. Wilay Mulaa are a celebration of Aboriginal culture, as well as the traditions of Chinese lantern making. The Wilay are a gentle contemplation on humanity’s connection with nature and the effect that we are having on many precious habitats, and they are a reimagining of the traditions of lantern making as an artform.

Wilay Mulaa is a project realised collaboratively with Nathan Peckham, by artistic interpretation and design and engineering in both traditional art and design techniques, and 3D software by Nicholas Tory, Tumen Altangadas, and PMI Engineers.

The Wilay Mulaa Possums are handmade by traditional Chinese artisans in China, and represent a cultural collaboration as well as a technical, artistic and design collaboration.

The 10 Wilay are hand formed and welded from steel based on many 3D design renders and traditional and digital drawings. The Wilay are then painted with black primer. Once dry, the internal structures are rigged with Warm White static LED lights, and then synthetic silks are glued under tension to the handmade steel framework. The final step is black trim is applied over the top of the coloured fabric along the lines of the steel framework, and finally the fine details are airbrushed, and painted.

Project Context

Burwood Council acknowledges the Wangal Clan as the traditional custodians of the lands in which the Burwood Local Government Area is located. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging. We value and respect First Nations peoples continuing culture, beliefs, and relationship to Country and the important contribution they make to the life of our area and community.

For this project, it is important to note that ‘Wilay Mulaa’ is a Wiradjuri story belonging to Nathan Peckham’s experience and ancestry. The ten light sculptures that form the installation are based on Nathan Peckham’s drawings, and have been developed by Nathan in collaboration with the artistic, design and technical teams at Ample Projects led by Nicholas Tory.

In this context ‘Wilay Mulaa’ are Wiradjuri words – Wilay meaning possum and Mulaa meaning night. We acknowledge there are diverse interpretations of possums in visual, aural and written contexts across many cultural groups, and for ‘Wilay Mulaa’ Nathan’s art and stories are at the heart of this particular work.

The project is based on a collection of cultural art objects for the Taronga ‘Wild Lights’ precinct in 2023 for Vivid Sydney. This earlier project created a larger ‘Wilay’ light sculpture in early 2023, which became the inspiration for Burwood’s smaller ‘Wilay Mulaa’ sculptures.

Artist Statement by Nathan Peckham

"A warm breeze whispers through leafy drapes of ancient treetops. Below, my ancestors sit in dust. Their fire’s lessons held and passed as was done since the first dawn. Grey plumes spiral skyward, reaching up towards those who once warmed their spirit by this flame.

A small child breaks her gaze of embers, for she feels a presence loom. Yet fear doesn’t replace the comfort of the wise fire. It cradles her and pulls her closer. She has felt this before. She knows she is safe.

The wind’s whisper grows to a groan as her young eyes search for her visitor. Above, the wind lifts the veil of leaves for a moment. Two huge flame-filled eyes appear and greet my mother’s own. The veil rises once more. Fur stained of yellow ochre glows against the night sky is revealed. And there, nestled in the arms of the ancient tree, she knows it is Wilay and she knows she is home."

As a proud Tubba-gah man from Dubbo in the Wiradjuri Nation, I respectfully acknowledge all nations which the Burwood Council and Ample Projects operates on. I acknowledge this artwork will be viewed off my home country of the Tubba-gah people and therefore ask you accept this artwork as an offering on behalf of my family as a gesture of continuing the legacy of the knowledge of our ancestors.

I would also like to pay respect to all traditional custodians of the country whose ancestral lands we all walk upon. I thank the Elders for their wisdom, courage, and sacrifice and pledge my commitment to preserving their legacy for future generations.

Project Launch

Burwood Park lit up for the debut of "Wilay Mulaa: Spirit of Light". The opening included a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony by Wangal Elder Auntie Kerrie Kenton, along with performances by the Stiff Gins, Nicholas Ng, members of the Sydney Conservatorium Chinese Music Ensemble, and the Burwood Chinese Fan Dance Group.

Event highlight video