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Collaborators & Community

Core Collaborators

Kat Bell (Gudjal of North Queensland - based on Erawirung Country, South Australia)

Lead Researcher | Lead Curator | Artist
As the lead researcher and curator, I guide the overall vision of the project, bringing together research, creative practice, and intercultural exchange. My role is to hold space for collaboration, to listen, and to ensure that the work remains grounded in Indigenous-led approaches, storytelling, and relationship to Country.

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Shaq Koyok (Temuan Orang Asli, Malaysia)

Key Collaborator | Co-Curator (Malaysia Exhibition) | Cultural and Creative Leadership
Shaq Koyok is a central collaborator in this exchange, bringing strong cultural leadership, artistic vision, and advocacy for Temuan Orang Asli communities. As co-curator for the Malaysian exhibition, he guides the development of stories and artworks connected to Pulau Moyang, ensuring cultural integrity and community-led representation.

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Daniel Giles (First Peoples of the Riverland, South Australia)

Creative and Curatorial Assistant | Community Engagement (Riverland)
Daniel supports both creative and curatorial processes, working closely with Riverland communities. His role focuses on engagement, collaboration, and supporting the development of artworks and storytelling within the local Murray River (Mooroondi) context.

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Dr. Alex DeGaris-Boot (South Australia)

Key Collaborator | Virtual and Immersive Design Specialist
Alex brings expertise in immersive and virtual design, supporting the translation of storytelling into layered exhibition environments. This collaboration bridges artistic, technical, and spatial practices, helping to bring the immersive experience of the exhibitions to life.​

Participating Artists & Communities

South Australian First Nations Artists & Community

These collaborators bring diverse practices and deep cultural knowledge connected to Country across regional South Australia:

  • Sonya Rankine — First Nations weaving

  • Dominic Guerrero — Pottery and poetry

  • Kristal Matthews — Weaving

  • Pondi Group — Puppetry, storytelling, and Riverland cultural narratives

  • Riverland Murray Mallee Aboriginal Corporation (RMMAC) — Indigenous Rangers Program, sharing Riverland stories, environmental knowledge, and cultural practices

Temuan Orang Asli Artists & Community (Malaysia)

These collaborators bring knowledge, practices, and stories grounded in the Pulau Moyang Forest:

  • Lisa Koyok — Temuan weaving

  • Temuan Culture and Information Centre & Temuan Villagers — Weaving, puppetry, and community storytelling

Institutions & Partners

This work is supported through partnerships that enable both research and creative outcomes across countries:

  • Adelaide University — Academic research and support

  • MOD. Adelaide — Exhibition partner (Australia, 2027)

  • Soka Gakkai Malaysia — Exhibition partner (Malaysia, 2027)

  • AIARTS — Creative and research collaboration

  • Ramble Arts — Regional arts support and engagement

Working Together

This project is grounded in values that shape how we work together:

Co-creation
All collaborators are active contributors to the development of stories, artworks, and exhibitions. The work evolves through shared making and shared decision-making.

Community Leadership
Communities guide the stories that are told, how they are shared, and how they are experienced. Cultural authority remains with those connected to the stories.

Ethical Collaboration
This work is guided by trust, reciprocity, and respect for cultural protocols. Relationships are prioritised over outcomes, ensuring that the process is as meaningful as the final exhibitions.

Together, this network of collaborators forms the living foundation of the project—shaping not only what is created, but how stories are held, shared, and carried forward.

Where the Journey Began

An important part of my journey is collaborating with other creatives. In 2025 I started collaborating with Temuan Orang Asli artist and cultural advisor Shaq Koyok, and immersive media specialist Alex DeGaris‑Boot, on an international intercultural exchange project that brings together First Nations and Orang Asli knowledge, creative practice, and river‑based storytelling. This collaboration is grounded in Indigenous methodologies and community‑led practice, with each artist contributing their own expertise to shape the project’s cultural, creative, and curatorial direction. Individual bios are listed below.

SHAQ'S BIO

Shaq Koyok is a Temuan Orang Asli artist, curator, and cultural advisor from Selangor, Malaysia, whose work centres Indigenous sovereignty, environmental advocacy, and culturally grounded storytelling. A prominent voice in Orang Asli contemporary art, Shaq brings deep community knowledge, creative leadership, and cross‑cultural insight to the exchange project, helping shape its artistic direction through culturally rooted practices and collaborative learning.

ALEX'S BIO

Alex DeGaris‑Boot is an immersive media specialist and visual‑new‑media artist whose practice spans digital art, animation, and AR/VR technologies. With a strong background in creating interactive and technologically driven artworks, he brings a refined technical approach to storytelling, combining digital innovation with thoughtful, community‑aware creative processes. His work explores how emerging media can extend artistic expression, deepen audience engagement, and support new forms of cultural narrative.

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