Project Overview
Three Bilang
Three Bilang
Location:
Kangan TAFE Broadmeadows, Somerton, Victoria, Australia
Website:
www.kangan.edu.au/campus/broadmeadows
Three Bilang is a suspended sculptural installation in the entrance atrium of Kangan TAFE, Broadmeadows, Melbourne. A collaboration between David Trubridge and Indigenous curators/artists Kim Wandin and curators/artists Christine Joy (Murrup Biik Public Art), the work honours Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung culture by creating three monumental forms inspired by woven dilly bags, called Bilang. The design process was grounded in cultural respect, material innovation and community collaboration. The outcome is a deeply evocative and immersive experience that combines storytelling, artistry and Indigenous identity within a contemporary architectural space.
Design Challenge / Brief
The brief was to create a public artwork for a three-storey atrium space in the newly built Kangan TAFE Broadmeadows campus. Curators from Murrup Biik Public Art invited David Trubridge to collaborate on a design that reflected Indigenous cultural narratives, specifically through the form of Bilang: traditional Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung woven dilly bags. The installation needed to be bold, visually impactful and culturally resonant, while also meeting the structural and spatial demands of a large-scale indoor environment.
Concept + Design Thinking
The design drew inspiration from archival images and sketches of Bilang provided by the curators, especially Kim Wandin’s large woven forms. David translated these intricate weaving patterns into large-scale sculptural forms using CNC-cut bamboo plywood. Each of the three Bilang forms was uniquely shaped and hand-painted in earthy ochre tones reflecting Indigenous land pigments. The patterns, materials and scale embody both a reverence for tradition and the innovation of contemporary design practice. Collaboration with the curators ensured cultural authenticity, while every aesthetic and structural detail was considered in response to the site and story.
Execution
All the parts for the Bilang were CNC cut, hand sanded and painted in David Trubridge’s New Zealand workshop using sustainable bamboo plywood. Approximately 500 components per basket and 1500 custom-dyed nylon clips were used to assemble the works. The components were hand painted with artists’ acrylic pigment wash to reflect the ochre palette chosen in collaboration with the curators. Steel top rings and suspension cables were fabricated for each basket. Once on-site in Melbourne, David worked with local volunteers to carefully assemble and lift the Bilang into place using a top-down hoisting system. The result is a seamless integration of natural materials, handcraft and structural ingenuity.
Cultural Collaboration & Sensitivity
A deeply respectful and collaborative process underpinned the project. David worked alongside curators Kim Wandin and Christine Joy to ensure the vision for the Bilang reflected cultural knowledge and integrity. The installation culminated in a traditional Smoking Ceremony led by Aunty Kim, honouring both the spiritual and physical space. The design team ensured all content, materials and processes were developed with consent and acknowledgement of Indigenous significance.
User Experience/Public Engagement
Suspended across the atrium, the Bilang installation creates a moment of stillness, reverence and curiosity. Students and visitors encounter the works as they enter the space, drawn into their scale, light-play and rich storytelling. The forms hover above, casting shifting shadows and offering a contemplative counterpoint to the building’s architecture. The installation has been widely praised for its emotional resonance and ability to connect people to place, culture and craft.
Outcomes & Impact
The curators and community celebrated the installation. Kim Wandin expressed being moved to tears during the final stages of installation. “David worked sensitively with us to help us create our artistic vision,” said Christine Joy. “We are deeply grateful for his careful approach and are thrilled with the outcome.” The work stands as a model of respectful co-creation and has become a landmark feature of the TAFE campus
Acknowledgements
Designed by: David Trubridge
In collaboration with Indigenous curators: Kim Wandin and Christine Joy (Murrup Biik Public Art)
Special Thanks: Tiel Lillehagen, Director, Kangan TAFE, Broadmeadows.
Image Gallery
