The Indigenous Futures Artwork Competition continues to make a meaningful impact, with this year’s winning piece a powerful testament to connection, collaboration, and cultural storytelling. The 2025 winners, Desi Marliani, a Bachelor of Communications student, and Fiona Reidy, a Curtin alumna and artist, have created a captivating artwork that embodies the spirit of ReconciliAction.
Their creation, now installed on Building 209, symbolises the unity that emerges when cultures come together, with a focus on respect, shared stories, and connection to Country.
For Desi, a non-Indigenous student, the competition offered an opportunity to learn deeply, listen, and work alongside Fiona to honour Indigenous perspectives.
“The Indigenous Futures Artwork competition is a meaningful initiative that not only helps uncover and celebrate emerging artists, but also Indigenous talents. It creates opportunities for connection and recognition within the Curtin community. It’s a great platform for artists to share their stories and perspectives, while promoting inclusivity and cultural awareness across the campus. Competitions like this show a genuine commitment to supporting Indigenous voices, making space for creativity, and reflecting on connection to Country and culture,” said Desi.
For Fiona, the competition was a chance to create art with a friend, inspired by a shared love of the natural world.
“I saw this competition as a great opportunity to do a nice artwork together for Reconciliation Week. What brought us together as friends is that we really love the black cockatoo – the Weelyark (also known as Karak). When they fly over our heads, they’re usually warning us that rain is coming,” Fiona shared.
This year’s competition marks a shift from previous years. The 2025 finalists and winners represent a new generation of artists, and the collaboration between a non-Indigenous student and an Aboriginal community artist reflects a unique relational dynamic.
The winning piece, now affixed to a new location at Building 209, serves as a vibrant visual and cultural landmark, reminding the Curtin community of the importance of ongoing reconciliAction work and cultural connection.
Associate Professor Mandy Downing, Dean of Indigenous Futures, praised the collaboration:
“My favourite part about this creation is the relationship developed between Desi and Fiona, which is very much in the spirit of ReconciliAction. It demonstrates the beauty that we can achieve in unity.”
The Indigenous Futures Artwork Competition remains a key event in the Faculty of Humanities’ as part of the Indigenous Futures capability platform. It represents a bold and visible commitment to fostering a culturally welcoming campus, creating opportunities for dialogue, understanding, and connection through creative expression.
The competition aligns with the 2025 National Reconciliation Week theme: “Bridging Now to Next”, reflecting the ongoing connection between past, present, and future. Through collaborative art, the initiative promotes inclusivity, understanding, and pride in cultural diversity, helping to Indigenise the built environment and spark important conversations at Curtin University.
As Desi and Fiona’s artwork reminds us, reconciliAction is a journey best walked together, through shared stories, friendships, and creative expression.
