NYANYAHLILA is the second solo exhibition by Yugambeh-born Bundjalung artist Shaun Daniel Allen (Shal) at China Heights. This exhibition takes its name from the Bundjalung word for looking, a concept that the artist has instilled within this new body of work as a looking to Country and a looking for natural materials; foraged leaves and collected ochre. NYANYAHLILA gives emphasis to the deepening of relationship with medium that occurs when working with natural elements, and in turn, the energy and depth these components give artworks. Since presenting his first solo exhibition, BALUN, with China Heights in May 2021, Shal has been working consistently on developing and diversifying his practice, exploring medium and materiality as well as finding ways to connect to Country whilst living away from home.
When considering NYANYAHLILA, it is made clear that there are three distinct types of works in the exhibition, natural dye, ochre and acrylic works, each connecting synonymously with one another, whilst clearly defining their own relationship with the artist and with Country. The natural dye works are Shal’s first exploration into pulling natural ink from the leaves of native plants and then using them to dye canvas. Shal was first introduced to natural dyes in 2021 through the work of artist Norton Fredericks at the Gold Coast City Council Indigenous Artist Camp. Wanting to learn more, Shal went back home this year to visit Norton and to see first-hand how the process works in order to find ways of incorporating the technique into his practice.
Using Macaranga leaves that were foraged on Bundjalung Country, as well as a local collection of gums, eucalypts and native flowering plants, Shal has been able to fully immerse himself in this slow, reverent, and involved process. The affect created by the overlapping, scattered patterns of the leaves on canvas alludes again back to earth, back to nature, to the layers of rustling leaves and debris that may be underfoot when walking through scrub. Ochres add another element and firmly connect Shal’s artworks with nature and specificity of place, undeniably linking and looking to Country.
Over the last year and a half, when visiting home, Shal has been periodically collecting ochre on Bundjalung Country and significantly integrating its use into his practice. Whilst the artworks in NYANYAHLILA are a continuation of shape and form of a broader body of work, intrinsically linked through riverine, winding brushstrokes, it is the use of colour and material that offer new elements to Shal’s work. The ochre itself is a physical tie to home, a specific signifier of identity and a connection to Country. The artist has also produced acrylic works for NYANYAHLILA and though these materials are synthetic, they are linked through exact colour matching to Bundjalung Country ochres and leaves.
When Shal began painting, his artworks took form instinctually, he felt compelled to make works as a form of meditation, in order to find solace in artistic practice. This urge to channel feeling and emotion into artwork has continued through Shal’s practice and through the act of making. NYANYAHLILA is the artist’s way of connecting himself to Country and to home, Shal says “I’m always looking for that connection back to home. It’s the searching for connection between being on Country and being in the city – you’re forced to find it when you miss home and are looking for the things that ground you.”
This year, Shal has been involved in three interstate group exhibitions; Lemonade at Honey Bones Gallery (Melbourne), While you were sleeping at Ambush Gallery Canberra (ACT) and Into the everywhen at Craft Victoria (Melbourne). To mark the opening of Ace Hotel Sydney, Shal was invited to be the first artist in residence and painted a Balun wall mural in the hotel’s café forecourt. In June, Shal was part of the Powerhouse Museum’s ‘Culture Up Late’ event and presented a live painting performance. He also painted live at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in conjunction with Dan Boyd’s Treasure Island exhibition. Shal has been recognised by Vogue Living as one of “5 young Australian artists changing our worldview”, received a feature article in RUSSH Magazine’s 100th issue and is featured in Vogue Magazine’s June publication, co-edited by Baz Luhrmann. This year Shal collaborated with Apple Music, PARKUP Cycling, The Galleries, Sydney, and was included in Monique Hemmingston’s publication The Makers.
Shal is a proud Yugambeh/Bundjalung man currently living and working on Gadigal Land. Shal is represented by China Heights and is a practicing musician and tattooer.
Text by: Eva Izabela Balog