Burra burawa birrung gili (Eel above countless generations of starlight)

Phillip lane, parramatta


Photographed for designers Cundall and lighting suppliers co:lab this project revitalises a Parramatta Lane way just behind Eat Street.


From Cundall's web site:

Cundall partnered with Darug Elder & Knowledge Holder, Uncle James Carrol and Awakabal Man, Matthew Fellingham to design “Burra burawa birrung gili” (Eel above countless generations of starlight), a unique lightart installation in response to a design competition that sought to revitalise a tired utility laneway and transform it into a distinctive attraction.  

Our lighting team designed the lightart sculpture through a deep listening exercise to the First Nations narrative of place, taking inspiration from the stories and insights of Uncle James Carrol, and Awakabal Man, Matthew Fellingham. The installation aims to bring to life the relationship between the burra (eel) and the landscape, river, peoples, history, culture and spirit of the area. The main structure is a free-flowing shape inspired by the Parramatta River and representing the mother burra (eel) with her head swimming towards the river, feeding spirit and life. Her family of burra’s float above with coloured panels that wash the surrounding buildings and pavements with shifting hues of light during the day and dynamic colour light that dances under the rippling water light at night.


I photographed this project across two visits, firstly during the day to show off the sunlight coming through the coloured perspex panels, then at night to try and capture all those hues.  

 

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Colorful neon light installation in green, yellow and pink spiraling above a narrow urban laneway at night between brick buildings.
Red neon spiral sculpture glowing above a city laneway entrance at night with high-rise apartment towers in the background.
Two people walk toward a purple and blue neon light artwork hanging over an urban laneway beneath tall city towers at night.
Golden orange neon spiral artwork illuminates a city alley at night as two pedestrians stand near blue-lit pavement.
Green neon spiral light sculpture glows over a laneway entrance at night while two people stand on the teal-lit pavement.
Pink and violet neon spiral installation lights up a city laneway at night with long-exposure light trails on the street.
Vivid purple neon spiral sculpture suspended over a empty city laneway at night, reflecting on the blue-lit pavement below.
Two people stand beneath a glowing purple neon spiral sculpture in an urban laneway at night with high-rise towers behind.
Blue and green neon spiral artwork lights a narrow city laneway at night with red light trails and tall apartment towers above.
A purple neon spiral sculpture glows above a pink-lit brick alley between high-rise buildings at night.
Green neon rings spiral above a cobblestone city alley, lighting the walls and surrounding high-rises at night.
A red neon spiral light installation illuminates a narrow urban alley in vivid crimson tones after dark.
An orange neon spiral sculpture hangs over a paved alley, casting warm light on the walls beside tall towers.
Violet neon rings twist along a suspended sculpture above a quiet downtown alley lit in magenta and blue.
A green neon spiral art installation glows over a blue-lit cobblestone alley with a high-rise towering behind.
Pink and orange neon rings coil above a bright magenta alley, creating a vibrant nighttime urban art scene.
An amber neon spiral light sculpture glows above a city alley with golden walls and blue-tinted pavement.
Green and pink neon rings spiral over a teal-lit alley with brick walls and a skyscraper in the background.
A purple neon spiral sculpture with yellow-green accents hangs above a pink-toned alley at night in the city.
Empty urban alley at night lit in pink and purple by a spiral neon light sculpture, with a high-rise tower glowing in the background.
Two pedestrians walk down a narrow city alley at night beneath a glowing purple spiral light installation and tall apartment towers.
Two people pause in a blue-paved laneway under a looping purple and white neon light sculpture, with skyscrapers rising overhead at night.
Green neon spiral light sculpture hangs above a narrow urban alley at night as pedestrians walk toward a glowing city skyline.
People walk through a nighttime laneway lit in vivid pink and magenta by a spiral neon art installation hanging overhead.
Visitors explore a night-time alley illuminated in warm orange and red by a spiral neon light sculpture suspended above the walkway.
Group of people walks down an alley beneath a multicolored spiral neon light installation glowing yellow, pink, blue and green at night.
Blurred figures move through a brick laneway at night under a spiral light sculpture glowing in blue, green and purple neon rings.
Two people stand in a quiet urban alley under a spiral light art installation glowing electric blue and green against the night sky.
Narrow city laneway at night with a spiral light sculpture overhead glowing in pink, purple and green neon, and a lone passerby.
Colorful neon fish sculpture with glowing rainbow rings suspended above a dark urban alleyway at night, city skyscraper in the distance.
Blue neon fish light installation with glowing rings spiraling over a narrow city laneway at night, pedestrians walking below.
Neon fish sculpture glowing blue, green and orange with spiral rings above a night laneway lined with green and pink walls.
Pink and magenta neon fish light artwork with glowing rings hanging above a city alley at night, lit buildings along both sides.
Purple neon fish sculpture and glowing rings over an urban laneway at night, with red light trails from passing vehicles below.
Glowing white and yellow neon fish installation above a night alley, with a parked utility vehicle and long-exposure light streaks.
Close view of green and yellow neon oval rings on a suspended light sculpture over a city alley at night, with pink glow beyond.
Blue and purple neon oval light sculpture with green accents hanging over a dark city alleyway at night, skyscraper in the background.
Vivid red neon oval ring sculpture suspended above a narrow city alley at night, bathing the brick walls in red light.
Warm orange neon oval ring light installation above a city laneway at night, with a glowing storefront and tower in the distance.
Purple neon-lit serpent sculpture with oval discs suspended over a quiet urban alley at dusk.
Green glowing serpent-shaped light sculpture with colorful oval discs hanging above a city laneway at twilight.
Blue and purple illuminated serpent sculpture with oval discs stretching above a narrow brick alley in the evening.
Red neon serpent sculpture with orange and blue oval discs suspended over a brick alley beneath a deep blue sky.
Close-up of a glowing serpent sculpture with green-rimmed red and orange oval discs against a dusk sky with a bird flying.
Purple-lit serpent sculpture with pink-rimmed red and blue oval discs suspended on steel poles against a twilight sky.
Fish-headed serpent sculpture with neon-edged colorful oval discs hanging from steel frames above an urban laneway.
Upward view of a fish-topped serpent sculpture with red oval discs suspended on a steel frame between city buildings.
Spiral serpent sculpture with green, blue and orange oval discs suspended in front of tall high-rise apartment towers.
Low-angle view of a serpent sculpture with glowing blue oval discs and a green light line against a clear sky and glass tower.
Fish-shaped suspended sculpture with red oval discs hangs above a city street between tall apartment towers under a blue sky.
Colorful translucent discs in yellow, green, blue and red surround a curving metallic tube sculpture suspended above an urban street.
Colorful translucent disc sculpture with a curved golden tube winding between urban buildings against a blue sky.
Close-up of two glowing green and yellow oval discs with illuminated edges against a deep blue sky beside a bronze sculpture.
Looking up at blue, orange, red and yellow translucent discs mounted on a bronze sculpture with high-rise buildings in the background.
Bronze curved sculpture with blue translucent oval discs suspended from steel beams against a vivid blue sky and a glass skyscraper.
Red, orange, yellow, green and blue glowing discs attached to a copper-toned curved sculpture against a bright blue sky.
Low-angle view of a fish-shaped bronze sculpture with red oval discs suspended from steel poles between skyscrapers and blue sky.
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Bronze fish sculpture with red disc lights suspended over a city street, with hotel and apartment buildings in the background.
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Colorful blue, yellow and orange discs on a curved metal sculpture hang overhead between city high-rises.
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Close view of translucent blue, yellow and orange discs on a curved bronze sculpture with city towers behind.
Bright yellow, orange, red and blue discs on a long curved metal art installation under a vivid blue sky.
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Large yellow-green and blue discs on a copper-toned curved sculpture against a saturated blue sky and glass tower.
Curved metallic sculpture with blue translucent discs and a glowing yellow strip against a high-rise apartment tower.
Colorful glass discs on a twisting copper sculpture overhead, with tall glass skyscrapers rising under a bright blue sky.
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Spiraling public art installation with colorful translucent discs hanging over a city alley, framed by a high-rise tower.
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Woman walks down a sunlit alley beneath a hanging spiral art installation of multicolored discs and a brick building.
Looking up a narrow laneway at a curving sculpture with blue and green discs, as colorful shadows fall on a brick wall.
Low-angle view of a suspended sculpture with vivid blue, green and orange discs above a laneway, casting colorful shadows on brick.
Man in a gray sweater walks past a brick wall and roller shutter covered in colorful oval shadows and reflections.
Vivid red, blue and yellow oval light patterns and shadows spread across a pink brick wall beside a closed roller shutter.
Woman with light hair walks along a sunlit alley past a brick wall splashed with bold colorful shapes and long shadows.
Narrow city alley with a pink brick wall and roller door painted in bright red, blue and yellow shapes under strong sunlight.
Close view of a brick building corner with bold blue, orange and yellow geometric shapes and dramatic shadows on the wall.