Aunty Lola Ryan with Nathan Mudyi Sentance (Head of Collections, First Nations) and Tammi Gissell (Collections Coordinator, First Nations) holding a shell from Ngabu; Walsh Bay, Sydney; photo: Powerhouse Museum
Sydney, Australia – Powerhouse Museum, custodian to over half a million objects of national and international significance, have acquired Ngabu – a giant shell art bridge by Dharawal elder and artist Aunty Lola Ryan. This temporary public artwork in Walsh Bay Arts Precinct was curated and produced by Sydney-based arts organisation City People.
Tammi Gissell, Collections Coordinator, First Nations at Powerhouse commented, ‘We are thrilled that Aunty Lola’s Ngabu is coming into our care here at the Powerhouse. Ngabu is an intrepid re-imagining of the shellworked harbour bridges made iconic by her mum Lola Delia Ryan and Aunty Mavis Longbottom.’
Ngabu (meaning Nan / Grandmother in Dharawal) was a homage to the shellworked harbour bridges created by the artist’s mother Lola Delia Ryan and her aunty Mavis Longbottom – which were also acquired by the Powerhouse Museum in 1986.
Aunty Lola Ryan, City People and Pink Cactus team inspecting original shell
harbour bridges made by artist’s mother, 2025, Rockdale, Sydney; photo: DCITHS
‘Aunty Lola remembers coming to shellworking classes that her mum and aunty taught at the Powerhouse as a child. Being able to bring – almost three decades later – Aunty Lola’s own large scale interactive shell art into the Powerhouse collection to join those crafted by her mum, aunty and generations before that, is a profound testimony to the enduring legacy of shell art from the La Perouse community and how new technologies can be utilised in respectful service of traditional expressions of culture,’ Gissell continues.
The installation references Buri-buri, the humpback whale who travels up and down the Eastern coastline, and shell art traditions dating back to the 1800s.
‘Shell art is a tradition passed down for generations to our mob. But it’s become a dying art. Not many young people are continuing it, and I want to keep that tradition alive,’ reflects Aunty Lola.
Ngabu was exhibited at Walsh Bay Arts Precinct from 17 January till 27 April 2025. Find out more here: https://citypeople.com.au/portfolio/ngabu/
Aunty Lola Ryan, Ngabu, 2025, public artwork; Walsh Bay, Sydney; photo:
Powerhouse Museum.
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ABOUT AUNTY LOLA RYAN
Aunty Lola Ryan is a Dharawal elder, artist and community leader born in Sydney. One of ten children, her family comes from the La Perouse Aboriginal community and until after the referendum in 1967, all lived on the La Perouse Aboriginal mission. Aunty Lola is passionate about supporting her community. She works closely with the Gujaga Foundation, the peak organisation leading language, cultural and research activities within the La Perouse Aboriginal community. She has also been the Aboriginal Health Worker – Child and Family Health for the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District for over 20 years. Aunty Lola hails from a long lineage of esteemed Dharawal shell artists from La Perouse. Her mother Lola Delia Ryan, aunty Mavis Longbottom and grandmother ‘Ma Page’ were all shell artists.
ABOUT CITY PEOPLE
City People is an arts and culture consultancy which has delivered over forty-five culture-led placemaking projects for the most significant and well-loved destinations in Australia and abroad. Walking in step with artists and communities, we shift how people feel about places through arts and culture. We provide services in: arts and cultural strategy; culture-led placemaking; arts programming, producing and creation; and project implementation.
Learn more at citypeople.com.au and follow us via Instagram, LinkedIn and our newsletter.
Media: Michael Cohen (Director @ City People), michael@citypeople.org.au