Mumu Mirri which means moth in Wadawurrung language, is a striking new public artwork by Dave Jones in collaboration with Wadawurrung artist and knowledge holder Dr Deanne Gilson. This large-scale commission celebrates the Bogong Moth—an ancient source of sustenance, ceremony and survival for First Nations peoples.

For Dr Gilson’s ancestors, the Bogong Moth was a vital food source and a spiritual presence honoured in gatherings and storytelling. Through an imaginative fusion of sculpture and lighting design, Jones brings the moth to life, offering a meditation on ecological balance and cultural continuity.

Installed on the facade of the National Centre for Photography, Ballarat, Mumu Mirri invites festival-goers to reflect on the interconnectedness of all living things and the enduring knowledge embedded in Country.

Main image: Artist’s impression, 2025. Courtesy of Dave Jones.