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 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

MOK MOK MURRUP YAKUWA