Bringing History, Culture, and Community Together for the National Museum of Australia

28 May

Written By BOHIE

How can art bring history, culture, and community together in a meaningful way?

For the “Riding the Olympic Wave: Breakthrough Sports” exhibition at the National Museum of Australia (NMA), I collaborated with museum curators, the International Olympic Committee, and exhibition partners to design and install large-scale murals that celebrated the spirit of sport and innovation. This grant-funded project reflected our shared commitment to fostering creativity, education, and sustainability.

A key highlight was a paid mentorship for Surfcoast, Victoria Indigenous artist Jessi Rebel, supporting emerging talent and amplifying diverse voices. Together, we adhered to museum standards by using low VOC paints to ensure the safety of artefacts while delivering eight engaging and vibrant murals in the museum’s main foyer, The Gandel Atrium.

The project extended beyond the artwork itself, including media features, education workshops, and public engagement activities such as an educational film for the museum archives and five full-day school holiday programs for ages 5-17, all connected to the exhibition.

Completed on budget and within a two-week timeline, the mural was brought to life through collaboration with the Head Curator, international stakeholders, and local partners. After-hours access, police checks, and security clearance ensured a smooth and secure process.

Location: Main foyer, The Gandel Atrium, National Museum of Australia.
Client: National Museum of Australia with International Olympic Committee as a key stakeholder
Year: 2024
Assisted by: Jessi Rebel

“Bohie was Great. We needed to create a different vibe in the main atrium of the National Museum for an exhibition on new Olympic Sports and Bohie came up with a concept that was bang on. And then to top it off she came in on time and on budget (and was great to work with).”

— Dr Jono Lineen, Curator, National Museum of Australi

BOHIE

Based in Braidwood, NSW, BOHIE creates art, illustration, public space murals, and creative workshopping experiences that explore wonder and connection to each other and to the natural world.

She works alongside educational institutions, government agencies, community focus groups and stewards of the natural world to design change-making campaigns for each creative project. Bohie utilises a research-based methodology to find inspiration for her artworks, resulting in 2D images which are laden with deeper stories and symbolic meaning.

This narrative driven conceptual development injects her unique authenticity and grass-roots integrity into the public arena, which she sees as a conscious challenge to public advertising. In a time of rapid change, extreme instability and a globally recognised feeling of imminent threat, Bohie’s art provides messages of hope and empowerment for a changed future.

https://www.bohie.com.au

Bringing History, Culture, and Community Together for the National Museum of Australia

“Bohie was Great. We needed to create a different vibe in the main atrium of the National Museum for an exhibition on new Olympic Sports and Bohie came up with a concept that was bang on. And then to top it off she came in on time and on budget (and was great to work with).”

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