As part of its 40th anniversary program, Linden New Art presents a significant new commission by leading Yorta Yorta/Wamba Wamba/Mutti Mutti/Boonwurrung artist Maree Clarke, on the building’s facade.
Long Journey Home: We Are Still Here, is on display from Saturday February 28 until Sunday 17 May 2026.
Draped across the heritage facade of Linden New Art, Maree Clarke’s site-specific installation transforms the building’s colonial architecture into a ghostly backdrop for First Nations sovereignty.
Printed onto a translucent mesh banner, the work stands as a permanent sentinel – visible to passersby day and night – offering a profound statement on the enduring resilience of First Nations culture.
Maree Clarke: The Long Journey Home – Courtesy of the artist and Viven Anderson Gallery, Melbourne
Long Journey Home: We Are Still Here revisits Clarke’s iconic photographic series, depicting her family on the shores of Port Phillip Bay. Clad in traditional possum-skin cloaks and river-reed necklaces – sourced from the very wetlands that line the local coast – their faces are marked with white river clay. By overlaying this imagery with hand-drawn maps and microscopic captures of river reeds, Clarke invokes the Boonwurrung tradition of welcoming guests and ensuring safe passage through Country.
Through this re-enactment of a pre-invasion scene, Clarke powerfully asserts the continuous connection of the Boonwurrung People to the land upon which Linden stands.
“It is an honour to present this major work as part of Linden’s 40th anniversary,” says Curator Hamish Sawyer. “The installation is a vital reminder of the Boonwurrung People’s deep connection to Country and reflects our commitment to supporting ambitious new works by leading artists.”
About the Artist
Maree Clarke is a pivotal figure in the reclamation of South-East Australian Aboriginal art. Her multimedia installations including photography, sculpture and video further explore the customary ceremonies and rituals of her Ancestors.
A former staff member at Linden in the 1990s – where she established the Koorie Arts Unit – Clarke’s return follows her major 2021 survey at the National Gallery of Victoria, Ancestral Memories.
You can see more of Maree's work on her Instagram page.