SubTerrains is the fascinating theme of this year’s Bankstown Biennale, exploring the “hidden stories” within the landscape surrounding the Bankstown Arts Centre.

More than 50 artists have created work for the Biennale, which will include installations and video, responding to the SubTerrains theme. This is a First Nations artist-led interrogation of local narratives of land and colonisation, post colonisation, war and migration, historical truths and buried stories within local sites of significance.

The Biennale aims to highlight the Aboriginal history of Salt Pan Creek after colonisation and based on Joe Anderson, a long-time resident of the area in 1930s and 40s.

In 1933, Joe (also known as ‘King Burraga’) was filmed near Salt Pan Creek, Bankstown, declaring a petition to the King of England, calling for equal rights and justice for Indigenous Australians.

He spoke of the connection to Country and the need for having respect for each other.

The Biennale will mark Joe’s political legacy, as he truly was a visionary; accessing cutting edge technology to get his message into the mainstream on film. Now almost 100 years on, First Nations people are still echoing these same calls to action.

Canterbury-Bankstown Mayor Khal Asfour said the Biennale is an intriguing look at our local history.

“It’s also fascinating to know that the waterways feeding Salt Pan Creek, flow beneath the Arts Centre and our culturally vibrant precinct,” Mayor Asfour said.

“I’d like to encourage everyone to visit the Biennale because, for many of us, it will be the first time we’ve really thought about the significance of Bankstown and the history of our First Nations people. I’m looking forward to learning more about Joe Anderson who was pleading for equality and fairness back in 1933 -a theme that continues to this day.”

SubTerrains Bankstown Biennale 2022 runs from Oct 8th–Nov 26th .

The Arts Centre is open Tues–Sat, 10 am–4 pm

The Biennale program includes:

• Sat Oct 15 – Nawi building demonstration with Uncle Dean Kelly, 10am-4pm
• Sat Oct 29 – Riverculture Weaving workshops with Auntie Kerrie Kenton 10.30am–noon and 1.00-2.30 pm (12 years and up)
• Sat Nov 5 – SubTerrains Forum 1-3pm with Wesley Enoch, Uncle Shayne Williams, Aroha Groves and Jennifer Newman