Created by Noongar artist Sharyn Egan alongside more than 100 students from six schools across the Southern Forests & Valleys region through the Boodja Ni project, these striking balga sculptures stand as powerful symbols of culture, connection and reconciliation. Participating schools included Bridgetown Primary School, Manjimup Education Support Centre, East Manjimup Primary School, Manjimup Senior High School, Kearnan College and Pemberton District High School.
Inspired by balgas (grass trees), which were traditionally important to Noongar people for carrying and maintaining fire, the sculptures celebrate the enduring strength and knowledge of First Nations culture. Originally exhibited at Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe in 2023, Sharyn Egan’s Blak, Loud and Proud balgas continue to spark conversations around identity, community and shared futures, while acting as proud ambassadors for reconciliation within the region.
Sharyn Egan is a Noongar artist working across painting, weaving, sculpture and site-specific installation. As a member of the Stolen Generation who grew up in the New Norcia Mission School, much of her work reflects on her lived experiences as a Noongar woman, exploring themes of trauma, loss, displacement and cultural identity.
Known for her willingness to experiment across different materials and forms, Egan often incorporates natural elements such as ochres, grasses and resins that connect deeply to Country, particularly the lake systems near her home in the southern suburbs of Perth. Her practice ranges from intimate woven vessels to large-scale sculptural works, blending traditional knowledge with contemporary artistic expression.
Follow Sharyn on social media: @sharyn_egan
