Wodoi & Jungun
Wodoi & Jungun is a major new commission by senior Worrorra artist and cultural leader Leah Umbagai, premiering at the 2025 Fremantle Biennale. Centring renewal and continuation, Umbagai brings together sculpture, sound, story and dance from the Worrorra, Ngarinyin and Wunambal (Mowanjum) peoples of the North-West Kimberley — reimagined through contemporary forms.
The work draws influence from the legacies of Umbagai’s grandfathers: the 25th anniversary of D. Woolagoodja’s Namaralay Wandjina sculpture, created for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and archival records of her great-grandfather, cultural leader and songmaker, S. Woolagoodjah. At the heart of the project are a series of newly re-imagined dance poles, shaped with contemporary materials.
Activated by story, sound and movement, the poles will be danced by the Mowanjum dancers in a special opening weekend performance at the Manjaree Precinct (Bathers Beach), before being exhibited at the DADAA Gallery. They will be surrounded by a soundscape created by Umbagai and her son Folau Penaia and Rona Charles, evoking the enduring strength and vibrancy of culture across time and generations.
“This project is about Totem,” says Umbagai. “We dance with it — it tells the stories of our moieties and where we fit in our communities. It’s about passing that knowledge to the next generation and bringing it into the modern world.”
Date, Time & Locations
Exhibition
13-30 Nov (Thur-Sun)
DADAA Gallery
Dance Performances
Thurs 13 & Fri 14 Nov, 6.30pm
Manjaree (Bathers Beach) Precinct
Entry
Free
Image Credit
S.Woolagoodjah. All images Courtesy Leah Umbagai.
Leah is a Culturally Senior Woddordda Woman of the Wanjina Uungud Peoples of the north-west Kimberley. Leah is a respected leader across arts, environment, health, language revitalization and cultural initiatives.
Elkin Umbagai (Leah’s paternal grandmother) had a big impact in the early stages of her life which embedded a seed of passion to continue her creative journey. Donny Woolagoodjah (grandfather) further influenced her passion creating a further gateway, as she was always around old people gaining knowledge and skills. Listening to stories of Law of the Country grounded her, forming the foundation and guidance for her to walk in two worlds. Teaching the significance of animals, traditions, customary ceremonies and preparing her to support the future of her people.
Experiencing her own walks, understanding how the teachings took place – from the animals to the caves – understanding the teachings and how it all became clear.
Leah explains “Our future is what we reap and sow it all happens in your dambeem (home). We can never keep our stories, skills, knowledge and language to ourselves it has to be shared (Wunan). The future has to grasp it and carry on the traditions as it holds the foundation to our paths.”
Leah paints, shares, teaches, reflecting her relationships to clan, country, moieties and dreams.
Leah’s work is keenly sought and represented in many collections throughout Australia and is in Art Gallery of Western Australia, Parliament House of Western Australia and WA Museum.
Manjaree (Bathers Beach Precinct)
Bathers beach, fremantle
DADAA Gallery
92 Adelaide st, fremantle
Event Information: Wodoi & Jungun includes:
Performances at the Manjaree Precinct on Thurs 13 & Fri 14 Nov, 6.30pm. Click here for travel and accessibility information for this Precinct.
Exhibition: at the DADAA Gallery. The below information is related to travel and accessibility to the DADAA Gallery
The exhibition can be entered at any time during opening hours.
Triggers: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that this work may contain references to deceased people.
Parking:
Street parking is located on Cantonment Street and Point Street, 30 minute free parking on Adelaide Street, and the closest car park is the City of Fremantle carpark 6A on Adelaide Street.
Public Transport:
The work is a short 10 minute walk from the Fremantle Train Station, which is the final destination for the Fremantle Train Line, as well as several bus routes.
Buses frequently travel to the area.
The DADAA Gallery is fully accessible, with ACROD parking bays located on Cantonment Street and Adelaide St. There is also a drop-off bay on Adelaide Street outside the building.Accessible toilets are located inside the building.
