Birrunga Wiradyuri
Biographies
Birrunga Wiradyuri (formerly Robert Henderson) is a Wiradyuri man Birrunga. He is the founder and principal artist of the multi award winning Birrunga Gallery and Dining in Brisbane’s CBD and is dedicated to fulfilling his cultural responsibilities, following and practicing the central Wiradyuri law of Yindyamarra. Birrunga is a practicing visual artist whose narrative works explore the spirituality of the Wiradyuri people, in historical and contemporary contexts.
Birrunga’s motto is ‘If not for me, then whom’ which has resulted in the foundation of a charity. The charity focuses on transporting Indigenous prisoners to funerals of loved ones, as well as pre and post release transition and reintegration programmes. Birrunga spends most Fridays spending time with Indigenous prisoners on matters of cultural priority.
Birrunga attended Buderim Primary School from 1969, moving onto Maroochydore High, where he survived until his expulsion in early grade ten. After which he moved to Nambour High where he successfully completed his junior certificate under duress.
Noted artist, Archibald and Wynne Prize winner, Sam Fullbrook lived at the top of Attunga Cresent where Birrunga’s family lived. It was Sam who awarded Birrunga 1st prize in the Buderim Primary School’s all of school art competition in 1969, in the self portrait category, noting at the time that Robert showed talent worthy of support and development.
Learn more about the Custodianship Program.
Other participants
Aleshia is visual artist, curator and arts worker based in regional New South Wales (NSW). Lonsdale is a Wiradjuri woman from Mudgee, NSW, who works for Arts OutWest as the Aboriginal Arts Development Officer. She is an alumnus of the National Gallery of Australia’s (NGA) Wesfarmers Indigenous Leadership Program.
Mariaa Randall is a Gidabul, Gulibul and Yaegl dance maker from the Far North Coast of New South Wales (NSW). She is a NAISDA Dance College graduate and more recently a Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) graduate obtaining a Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Arts Management.
