MOK MOK MURRUP YAKUWA
Paola Balla
Could your demons be here to protect you?
This work tells the story of Mok Mok, a Wemba Wemba female entity, who would call or sing children away from their homes to live with her. Once a terrifying entity that struck fear into the hearts of children, Paola recasts Mok Mok as a powerful matriarch upholding Sovereignty across all time and space. A guardian presence, a protector and constant witness to the violence of patriarchy and colonisation against Aboriginal women and children.
“Mok Mok Murrup Yakuwa is a version of reality that lives across life, dreaming and death. It represents a living experience of moving through time, place and ways of being on and with Country and holds my unconditional love of Country, my family and my people.”
Dr Paola Balla (Australia) is an acclaimed artist, writer curator and educator. She focuses on Aboriginal women's stories and resistance with a visual practice, encapsulating research, art, memory and narrative realms. Her work centres Aboriginal women’s voices, activism, Sovereignty, and matriarchy and First Nations ways of being, knowing and doing. She has exhibited extensively over the last two decades.
This work was commissioned and produced by RISING for Shadow Spirit curated by Kimberley Moulton. Co-commissioned by Illuminate Adelaide.
CREDITS
Mok Mok Murrup Yakuwa (2023)
Paola Balla (Wemba Wemba/ Gunditjmara)
Cultural and Story Guidance | Aunty Margie Tang, Aunty Donna Mitchell
Performers | Auntie Margie Tang, Maggie Guinan
Film Director | Paola Morabito
Film Producer | Jackie Adler
Production Company | Finch
Director of Photography | Adam Howden
Editor | Graeme Pereira
Edit House | Arc Edit
Film Producer | Jackie Adler
Sound Designer and Composer | Erin McKimm and Luke Ford
Post-Production and Flame artists | Atticus
Colourist | Greta Van Oyen
Hair and Makeup | Paola Balla
Costume | Paola Balla
Hand-dyed Silk Organza | Paola Balla
Metal Fabrication | Substraight
Mok Mok Murrup Yakuwa was filmed on Boon Wurrung (Bunnerong) Country with respect, care and gratitude. Thank you to N’arweet Carolyn Briggs AM, Yaluk-ut Weelam and Boon Wurrung Elder, for her support. Thanks to Parks Victoria and Werribee Mansion for your support.
Installation photography: Matthew Stanton and Phoebe Powell