Maddison Gibbs 

‘Burra’

The Burramattagal people, have a Totem, and we honour our Totem, the Eel.

In Dharug language, our name Burramattagal is broken down to mean;

Burra = eel, matta = place, gal = the people of.

Therefore, “the place where the eel sets down” is the true meaning of the word Burramatta

One mysterious feature of eels is their endurance to overcome many barriers. They survive swimming from one environmental condition

into another, facing varied changes in water currents and temperatures, entering ocean pathways, they travel through their life cycle to the Coral Sea.

The eel prepares itself with an instinct to survive its life-long journey to where its life began. It has a deep memory that it recalls.

In this artwork for TAFE Meadowbank, Maddie has incorporated Stories and Knowledge from the local area

to create an artwork to sit outside Multi Trade & Digital Hub Building.

The artwork combines modern materials and traditional form and methods and will completed ad installed in the second half of 2023.