Lewis Wandin-Bursill is a proud young Wurundjeri artist of the Woi-wurrung language group. He has always lived on Country in Healesville.
As an emerging artist Lewis’ recent works have been informed by his interest in the traditional ways of finding food and the implements that we used in this pursuit. Wood-carving has always been an integral part of Aboriginal culture and Lewis has been gifted the knowledge of his Ancestors.
Lewis’ wood burning designs (pyrography) reference his relationship with his four times great Uncle William Barak, exploring symmetry and the natural lines of nature.
Lewis’ ‘dagan’ club is a branch from a gum tree. The parasitic plant mistletoe attaches itself to the tree causing a bulbous protrusion on the branch. The ‘dagan’ club was traditionally used as a weapon for hunting. The wood is sourced on Country in the Yarra Ranges and is prepared by removing the bark by either carving or burning it off over a fire as Lewis has done.