Indigenous bus designs

Brisbane City Council is celebrating NAIDOC Week and Black History Month by featuring the works of two Brisbane-based Indigenous artists, Rachael Sarra and Casey Coolwell, on four buses travelling throughout the city.

The bus designs aim to increase pride and foster an innovative and creative community.

Check out more Indigenous art and performance with Indigenous Art Program and Gathering.

Rachael Sarra

Rachael Sarra is a contemporary Aboriginal artist from Goreng Goreng Country. She uses art as a powerful tool in storytelling to educate and share Aboriginal culture. Her style is feminine, fun and engaging. It strongly draws from her heritage and her role as an Aboriginal woman in a modern world.

Two Worlds (2019)

Two Worlds embodies the mental journey of a modern Aboriginal woman overcoming the internal and social conflict of not feeling Aboriginal enough.

It is an exploration of an Aboriginal artist navigating a modern world. With traditional culture, heritage and the guidance of ancestors at the heart of the journey, it is an expression of traditional culture evolving in a digital world.

The modern world on one hand allows for cultural connections and expressions to become accessible through digital platforms. On the other it allows for this connection and expression to be judged and passed off as ‘not Aboriginal enough’.

This piece challenges the perception of Aboriginality and art and is a sentiment to traditional Aboriginal culture through storytelling.

Distinguish (2019)

Distinguish is an exploration of the many unique intersects of the modern Aboriginal woman. Conflicted in the void of the past while breathing in the present. Each step questioned and another aspect of their identity strengthened. Together, we are cultivating the path of our future with our ancestors spirit lighting our way.  

Casey Coolwell

Casey Coolwell is a Quandamooka, Nunukul woman from Minjerribah with links to Eulo and the Bini people of Bowen. She is an Aboriginal artist and self-taught graphic artist who now runs a successful freelance company. She has created artworks for many well-known organisations including Menzies School of Health Research, Sentencing Council Queensland, and Queensland Performing Arts Centre.

Dreaming (2019)

When a loved one has gone, they never really leave. Our Dreaming has been told that after death, in human form, our spirits return as an animal or plant. This artwork represents our people returning to us in the forms of the snakes and turtles.

Connections (2019)

This artwork represents the connections made between the communities and countries, in which we travel through. Across our lands we have many countries. Travelling through different countries we must pay respect and acknowledge the traditional owners of the land we are visiting or passing through.

More information

If you would like to learn more about Black History Month, phone Council on 07 3403 8888.