Niah Juella McLeod unfolds a symbolic visual language that is simultaneously codified, organic, and vibrant, forming the essential foundation of her artistic expression. Through this unique visual vocabulary, she weaves stories blending intimate memory with collective histories, making each of her works resonate with the imprint of the land, Aboriginal spiritual heritage, and lived experience.

Niah Juella McLeod’s Bana Gugaa Waraawara series is deeply rooted in both territory and family memory. Its title, which can be translated as “Rain on the fibrous bark with fishing line,” invites us into a scene that is both sensory and emotional, anchored in the humid landscapes of Australia’s southeast coast, where the eucalyptus capitellata, known as Stringy bark for its fibrous bark, grows. Sheltered by the majestic eucalyptus trees under the rain, the artist evokes fishing memories shared with her grandfather. The air is heavy with moisture, infused with the strong scent of eucalyptus and wet earth.

Niah depicts rain trickling down eucalyptus trunks, blending poetry and sensation. Using a pipette or echidna quill, she draws fluid, sinuous lines that simultaneously recall the rain’s flow over bark and the winding pathways of memory. The iridescent reflections in the paint enhance the sensation of movement and the filtered light through the canopy.