Enlighten Festival | Kukawarra kwatja, pmara nhanhanama marra inthurra, soft rain, strong Country

Fri Feb 27 2026 at 10:00 am to 01:00 pm UTC+11:00

Parkes Place East, Canberra, ACT, Australia, Australian Capital Territory 2600 | Canberra

National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
Publisher/HostNational Gallery of Australia, Canberra
Enlighten Festival | Kukawarra kwatja, pmara nhanhanama marra inthurra, soft rain, strong Country
Advertisement
The National Gallery has commissioned Kukawarra kwatja, pmara nhanhanama marra inthurra, soft rain, strong Country, a new projection and sound-based work by Yarrenyty Arltere Artists and Grace Kemarre Robinya.
For the 2026 Enlighten Festival, the Mparntwe/Alice Springs-based artists will illuminate the building’s façade with rain stories from desert Country. Presented alongside the 5th National Indigenous Art Triennial: After the Rain, the projection offers a sense of rich and colourful Country, that has been cleansed by rain to suggest rebirth and new beginnings.
Yarrenyty Arltere Artists are renowned for their soft sculptures that deconstruct and reconstruct second-hand materials. For After the Rain the artists have created their most ambitious sculpture to date, Beautiful Ulkumanu (old woman), after the rain 2025. This ancestral woman created from old wool blankets with painted sewing machine feet will come to life on the National Gallery’s façade. After awakening from rainclouds painted by Grace Kemarre Robinya the Beautiful Ulkumanu (old woman) will create Country fresh and abundant after the rain. Inspired by their families, kinship relationships and the importance of rain to regenerate desert Country, this animation shares a positive and empowering message to continue moving onwards and upwards.
Advertisement

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Parkes Place East, Canberra, ACT, Australia, Australian Capital Territory 2600

Icon
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

Ask AI if this event suits you:

More Events in Canberra

2026 Fulbright Gala Presentation Dinner
Thu, 26 Feb at 06:00 pm 2026 Fulbright Gala Presentation Dinner

Great Hall, Parliament House

Leonardo da Vinci - 500 Years of Genius (Immersive Event) - Canberra ACT
Fri, 27 Feb at 02:00 am Leonardo da Vinci - 500 Years of Genius (Immersive Event) - Canberra ACT

Federation Centenary Fountains

Fri 27 Feb to Sun 01 Mar - Hat or Bag Burning in Canberra
Fri, 27 Feb at 08:00 am Fri 27 Feb to Sun 01 Mar - Hat or Bag Burning in Canberra

208 Cotter Road, Weston ACT 2611

Thai Buffet at Woden
Fri, 27 Feb at 08:30 am Thai Buffet at Woden

92-96 Corinna Street Woden , Canberra, ACT, Australia, Australian Capital Territory 2606

Ladies Games Night
Fri, 27 Feb at 09:00 am Ladies Games Night

Shop 3 Primmer Court Kambah, Canberra, ACT, Australia, Australian Capital Territory 2902

A Winter's Journey | Canberra
Fri, 27 Feb at 09:00 am A Winter's Journey | Canberra

Llewellyn Hall ANU

Introduction to weaving with Liz Perry
Fri, 27 Feb at 11:30 pm Introduction to weaving with Liz Perry

70 Maclaurin Cres, Chifley, ACT, Australia, Australian Capital Territory 2606

Family Fun Day
Sat, 28 Feb at 12:00 am Family Fun Day

Royal Australian Mint

Rueda Pop-Up Canberra - A Salsa Rueda Flashmob
Sat, 28 Feb at 01:00 am Rueda Pop-Up Canberra - A Salsa Rueda Flashmob

Canberra Civic Centre

Digi Culture & Music 2026
Sat, 28 Feb at 02:00 am Digi Culture & Music 2026

Thoroughbred Park

ZEEKR Canberra 7X Scenic Cruise to the Deep Space Cafe
Sat, 28 Feb at 03:00 am ZEEKR Canberra 7X Scenic Cruise to the Deep Space Cafe

Deep Space Cafe

Canberra is Happening!

Never miss your favorite happenings again!

Explore Canberra Events