An exhibition showcasing First Nations ancestral stories is set to feature at Western Australia's Joondalup Festival from mid March, with a creative twist applied to the Jila Kujarra: Two Snakes Dreaming story through a unique collaboration.

Commissioned by Fremantle Arts Centre in partnership with Martumili Artists and created as a cross-cultural collaboration between Warnman artist, Desmond Taylor, and Boorloo-based textiles practitioner, Mariaan Pugh, the exhibition is a fusion of both creatives' talents.

Through the collaboration Taylor and Pugh have worked together to transform Taylor's Niminjarra paintings - usually seen on canvas or paper - into highly tactile textile works, animating the important Niminjarra Jukurrpa (Dreaming).

Jila Kujarra: Two Snakes Dreaming is born of Taylor's desire to see his artworks reimagined through a textile medium and is a contemporary crafting of important ancestral stories deeply rooted in Warnman Ngurra (Country).

"Niminjarra is the two brothers transforming into a snake so they can come back home to Ngayartakujarra (Lake Dora)," Taylor said in 2019.

"They were in training for ceremony, those two brothers, but they were kept too long, and nobody was there to release them.

"They waited then they decided to transform into snakes to travel back to where they came from, because their mother was waiting for them. This is Jukurrpa (Dreaming story)."

A Manyjilyjarra and Warnman man, Taylor was born in 1964 near the Oakover River, moving to Jigalong soon after.

His family were among the last Martu to live entirely in the desert without access to rations or western supplies.

He now works as a professional translator and educator, as well as maintaining an arts practice.

The talented artist primarily paints his family's Ngurra (Country) around Karlamilyi (Rudall River) and the creation narratives for that Country.

They include the Niminjarra Jukurrpa (Dreaming) stories and associated narratives of the Jila Kujarra, which have been kept safe by Warnman people for all to share.

Pugh was born in the United Kingdom in 1993 but has spent much of her life in Western Australia.

Majoring in textiles, she undertook her formal arts training at Curtin University, as well as further training in fashion and textile design at North Metropolitan TAFE.

Drawn to vivid colour, playful motifs, and seductive tactile surfaces, Pugh's work subverts traditional textile techniques such as rug making, embroidery and weaving.

She creates works which defy categorisation, sitting between textile and painting, while exploring themes of interpersonal relationships, longing and distance.

"It's been such a joy and privilege to work with Desmond to expand his practice into a new medium," Pugh told Fremantle Arts Centre.

"Our working relationship has been easy and natural. He really trusts me creatively and anything I suggest he's happy for me to do.

"So I guess I've just tried to be really conscientious of staying true to the works as much as I can in terms of colour and patterning and checking in with him as much as possible."

With both creatives known for their niche works, the creative collaboration is set to see festival goers immersed in First Nations culture through an engaging exhibition.

Named best cultural, arts and music event by the Australian Event Awards in 2023, Joondalup Festival has grown into a significant community event delivering accessible, world-class cultural performances from across the state and country.

Joondalup mayor Albert Jacob said this year's program celebrates the city's unique cultural identity through multi-faceted works.

"We're proud to be welcoming back Joondalup Festival for 2025 with another stellar lineup." Mr Jacob said.

"This year's program is designed to celebrate the incredible diversity and creativity of our community and highlights everything that makes the City of Joondalup such a vibrant place to live, work and visit.

"I can't wait to see our streets and waterways come alive with these extraordinary performances.

"...our community is going to be dazzled by the scale and creativity of Joondalup Festival this year. It's going to be a festival to remember."

Joondalup Festival will be held from 15 March to 5 April.

Jila Kujarra: Two Snakes Dreaming will be on display at Festival Gallery – a new venue found between Joondalup Library and the City of Joondalup Administration at 102 Boas Ave, Joondalup.

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