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Mangal Bungal: Clever Hands

A creative cultural festival led by the Dingaal community

The Connections across the Coral Sea: A story of movement exhibition revealed the latest archaeological findings about the earliest movements of people and trade between the seafaring cultures of Papua New Guinea, Torres Strait, and the northeast coast of Queensland. The exhibition shares the amazing story of the scientific evidence that complements the traditional knowledge held by the Dingaal clan – that the Coral Sea has long been a place of cultural exchange, trade, and connection with our neighbours.


To celebrate the stories behind the exhibition, the Dingaal community from the northeast coast of Australia led Mangal Bungal: Clever Hands: 3-days of cultural events from 7-9 July 2023. The program brought to life traditional knowledge and stories of walking on Country through dance, storytelling, hands-on workshops, and immersive digital projections.


Mangal Bungal means “clever with hands” in Guugu Yimithirr language and is about connecting culture and spirituality and using your hands to create. Dingaal stories are entwined with Country and Mangal Bungal: Clever Hands brought this remote Country to Queensland Museum through artworks made from natural materials from Jiigurru (Lizard Island) and a planetarium video of the island and its cultural sites.


This work was commissioned as part of the Education and Engagement work of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage (CABAH). I worked as a creative producer in the practice-based research team that supported the Dingaal community, and the work is recognised as a high quality non-traditional research output. Full credits and information here.


Images: Jacqueline Wales / CABAH


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