Gaawaa (deep water) bespoke design applied to large hand woven kilim rugs and textile hangings at the Lendlease Australian Headquaters in Sydney and later applied to a woven architectural wrap (pictured); created to adorn temporary / seasonal site office at Hickson Road Barangaroo. A continuous motif / story representing layers of time experience and continuity.

Translating notions of strength, resilience and survival (country and people) and reiterating the importance of the visual presence of First Nations proples and issues of country into urban / built landscapes.

Ngaarr (‘hard’ / ‘strong’ in Gamilarray Yuwaalaraay), is inspired by the inner bark of a “gulabaa” or coolabah tree, a hardwood that grows in and alongside (from) the river.

A temporary installation commenting on history and time. “If you think about Aboriginal design, there was always a reason,” she says. “It was always for a purpose, for a way of communicating or telling a story. But that one story was forever evolving and remaining relevant - never static or meant to last forever.”

City of Sydney

A woven space which holds a moment, a thought, a presence. A collaborative project inspired by notions of convergence which embodies the strength of women, connection and relationships; and the role of fibre practice and making as a conduit for knowledge transfer and continuity. A project developed and designed by Gaawaa Miyay + created in collaboration / consultation with Koskela and Yolngu weavers from Elcho Island and Milingimbi for Westpac’s Kent Street refurbishment in Sydney.

Koskela

A celebration of relationships, Indigenous bio cultural knowledge & Australian food story - Gaawaa Miyay for the Breville Australia Reconciliation Action Plan (graphic design and environmental graphics / large scale mural).

In 2019 Ausgrid along with Group GSA engaged Gaawaa Miyay’s Lucy Simpson to design a suite of bespoke designs for the 19 floor refurbishment of Roden Cutler House in the heart of Sydney. The result was an immersed First Nations design experience embedded with narratives of energy, life and transfer. Through rug design, environmental graphics, and application onto walls windows as a tool for navigation and wayfinding within the built environment, this project is an acknowledgement of the complex systems held within nature which surround and sustain through one of the many stories of Baayangali (inter-connected relationships which bind all living things in the natural world).

Incorporation of bespoke ‘Baayangali’ design for interior wall / ceiling mural. A collaboration with mural artist Meg Minkley Meg Minkley for Ausgrid.

Written by Yuwaalaraay Performer / Composer / Storyteller Nardi Simpson, Produced by Bankstown Arts Centre, and directed by Felix Cross, Black Drop Effect is an immersive multi-layered experience that draws audiences into the contested space of ideas and emotions inspired by the 250 years of Australia’s colonial history with set design, costumes, props and digital illustration for immersive projection designed by Lucy Simpson.

This large scale art installation was created in 2018 to celebrate fisherwoman Barangaroo, the influential and resilient Cammeraygal woman after whom the place is named.

As part of this immersive and interactive installation at the Cutaway, Lucy worked closely with Wiradjuri Curator Emily McDaniel on visual storytelling; creating graphic design for promotion, large scale signage and way-finding for navigation throughout the site.

The project was the result of collaboration with Dharawal and Yuin artist Phyllis Stewart, Biigal artist Steven Russell, Yuwaalaraay designer and artist Lucy Simpson and Arrernte / Kalkadoon and Bundjalung woman Lille Madden.

A contemporary response to the Library's historical Aboriginal languages collection in a visual format. Lucy spent some time at the Library to experience the physical collections and to re-intepret the recorded words and meanings on a new and personal level. The result was three stunning artworks; Gurayn, Message Sticks, and Spoken Lines - applied across a range of applications - from website and digital content associated with the project, to bookmarks postcards and print media and interiors application in the Marie Bashir Reading Room.

Yarrin (water current) design was especially adapted for application onto coffee cups for the newly opened takeaway spot ‘Kiosk’ at Sydney Modern. This digital artwork responds to place and ideas of convergence, and connects to narratives associated with water (where saltwater meets freshwater). With Kiosk’s focus on light bites using Indigenous ingredients and a menu developed by Gamilaroi Elder Aunty Beryl Van-Oploo (who has championed bush tucker-style food for half a century), this commission was a beautiful opportunity to infuse stories of place for locals and international visitors alike to celebrate First Nations food story and local knowledge in useful everyday ways.

Lit from within with glowing embers that emerge and move across the three forms from sunset, these sculptural banksia act as beacon to old knowledge, highlighting our ongoing responsibility to country and the continuing importance of cultural regenerative practice.

Urban Art Projects

Coinciding with its 200th year, Westpac underwent a $400m refurbishment of its Sydney headquarters implementing an agile workplace model.

Within this repurposed space, wayfinding was identified as a way to support a variety of work-styles, along with placemaking features which activate specialist areas and provide a historical narrative about the bank’s relationships - past to present.

Gaawaa Miyay’s Lucy Simpson worked with the team at There Design on the Kent Street refurbishment to help illustrate and give presence to narratives inspired by saltwater country in acknowledgement of First Nations histories of Sydney.