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Nanyubak

Project typeMural

Located at the entrance to the popular Oakleigh Activity Centre, ‘Nanyubak’ is an eye-catching mural that adorns the external façade of Atkinson Street car park.

Created by Gunditjmara, Yorta Yorta and Wemba Wemba artist Tom Day, the mural celebrates First Nations culture and fosters a sense of community.

Named after a Yorta Yorta word meaning ‘to dream the future’, ‘Nanyubak’ depicts the lines of connection that bind people to the land and to each other. Bunjil the Eagle and Waa the Crow feature prominently, while the teal thread of the local Scotchmans Creek runs throughout. Gum leaves feature in the work, welcoming people to the lands of the Traditional Owners, the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung People.

The project marks a significant milestone for Monash Council as the first large-scale mural solely designed and installed by a First Nations artist in the municipality. Commissioning the artwork aligns with Council’s Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan, which was endorsed in December 2022.

The mural embodies the shared approach Council is committed to taking, to work alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to advance reconciliation across Monash.

Following extensive engagement with the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Traditional Owners, Council put out a public Expression of Interest in September 2023 and selected Day, who is represented by Mamam.

Creating the mural was a collaborative effort from the community, with more than 300 respondents engaging in the consultation process to choose the design, including Grade 5 visual arts students at Oakleigh Primary School and attendees at the 2023 Oakleigh Glendi Festival.

The Nanyubak mural was delivered by City of Monash in partnership with the Victorian Government. It was officially launched on 13 Feburary 2024.

About the artist

Tom Day is a Gunditjmara, Yorta Yorta and Wemba Wemba man and multi-disciplined artist based in Shepperton, Victoria

Melding traditional and contemporary art forms, he paints the world as seen with an Aboriginal perspective, envisioning spirits living in harmony with the people and animals.

“Country possesses a certain magic, an elusive quality that is capable of transforming landscapes in mere seconds. I capture that sense of place in my work – an endeavour to convey this essence, where the mystical allure of country unfolds before.

“The feature that ties the Nanyubak together is the linework. Each line represents a line of people who have called this place home from the beginning of time to the very present day.

“The title came from my experience of talking to the students at Oakleigh Primary School as part of the community consultation process. Ultimately the future is theirs, and hopefully the artwork allows young people to dream of a future that is brighter than we could ever imagine.”