Sydney Opera House unveils Badu Gili: Story Keepers
Showcasing First Nations voices from the Kimberley and Canadian Arctic
Mesmerising new projection to light up the Sydney Opera House sails every night
Sydney —
Sydney – 11 December 2025. The Sydney Opera House today announced a new chapter of its free, nightly First Nations sails projection Badu Gili: Story Keepers will debut on 17 December, featuring the artworks of Gooniyandi elder Mervyn Street and Inuk custodian Ningiukulu Teevee.
Curated by the Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain’s First Nations Curatorial Fellow Bruce Johnson McLean, the free six-minute animation will feature Street's colourful paintings followed by Teevee's bold drawings projected onto the Opera House’s Eastern Bennelong sails. It is the third year of a partnership between the Opera House, Biennale of Sydney and the Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain.
Mervyn Street’s distinctive artistic practice draws upon his lifetime as a stockman in the Kimberley and advocacy of cultural preservation through language and living on country. Kinngaimmiut Inuk artist Ningiukulu Teevee creates visual art rooted in Inuit myths and legends, keeping traditional stories alive while offering her unique perspective on Inuit culture. The work of both artists will be animated by Sydney-based creative agency Vandal.
The projection opens on Gooniyandi Country in the Kimberley where dust, fire and wind lift ancestral voices from scorching heat to moonlight. The narrative then shifts to Teevee's homeland of Nunavut in the Arctic, where ice and snow cradle stories in stillness as Raven and Owl perform timeless tales of creation, kinship and transformation.
Mervyn Street said: “My mum and Dad used to work. My Dad was just like a slave working over and over, everyday... I’m going back through my history, I’m doing it for the people, doing it for everybody, not for myself. I’m passing on my knowledge. This was a big project. I didn’t know it was going to go this far. It’s been a long journey for my art and now I can’t believe I’m doing this with the Sydney Opera House. I’m giving my story to the people.”
Ningiukulu Teevee said: “I am honoured to be part of this animation project, which brings to life the legend of The Owl and the Raven — a story that has stayed with me since childhood. I first heard it in school from an Elder whose storytelling captured my imagination. The themes of curiosity, transformation, and the balance between patience and pride continue to inspire me. Through this animation, I explore how Raven's restless spirit and Owl's calm wisdom reflect human nature and the lessons found in our traditions. This work connects Inuit storytelling with contemporary art, celebrating the voices, memories and teachings that guide my creative journey.”
Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain First Nations Curatorial Fellow, Bruce Johnson McLean, said: “It’s been a real privilege to bring together two leading Indigenous artists from opposite sides of the world, from lands of heat and smoke and lands of snow and ice. What unites these artists is their incredible commitment to holding and sharing the knowledge and histories of their communities. Story Keepers is a celebration of those members of our Indigenous communities who continue to share our stories and give voice to our memories.”
The premiere of Badu Gili: Story Keepers will take place on Wednesday 17 December with a special performance by Loren Ryan at sunset. Members of the public can find out more information here.
