Wannang Biridge, Light of the Peppermint Tree

“Wannang Biridge, Light of the peppermint tree” brings together the multiple collaborations of photo artist Martine Perret with Elder Vivian Brockman Webb, Mitchella Hutchins, Mabenan Hutchins and Majinda Hutchins with music composer and video/sound artist Roly Skender.

‘Wannang Biridge’ is a digital projection and exhibition of photographs that combines existing and new portraiture of Wardandi Elders with photomicrographs of the land created during Perret’s SymbioticA residency in June 2022.

It’s part of Perret’s continuing collaboration and consultation with Indigenous Elders from the Goldfields and the Southwest of Western Australia which investigates the universal idea that everything is connected, and how the memory of the land intrinsically passes through and between us.

Perret worked closely with Vivian Brockman Webb and Mitchella Hutchins on Wardandi country (Margaret River), collecting samples of soil, buds, leaves and bark of an old peppermint tree close to Perret’s studio at The Farm Margaret River.

Mitchella Hutchins explains, ‘The peppermint tree, or as we call it the ‘Wannang ‘tree, is sacred to us women. Significant trees, ones that are much larger and look distinctively different than the trees around them, are often woman’s birthing places. This is because the placentas of not just one birth, but generational births, have been placed by a family under that tree – the spirit of the tree feeds the baby and the baby’s spirit feeds the tree.’

Venue: Margaret River HEART – Nala Bardip Mia

18 August – 3 September. Mon-Fri, 10:00am-4:00pm.

Book Launch of ABOVE – Margaret River Region: Saturday 26 August, 4.30pm