27/05/2026
Today marks the beginning of National Reconciliation Week. This year’s theme is ‘All In’, a call for all Australians to commit wholeheartedly to reconciliation every single day.
Tonight, the Parliament House façade will be illuminated by ‘Numbat Night’, a 2024 artwork by John Prince Siddon, a Walmajarri artist based in Rubibi/Broome.
Of this work, the artist says:
‘Numbats are quiet animal. I never seen one, but I did it for their good colour. They feed on termite and ants. They same like my cat, they quiet. They come out at night where they like eating at night. Search for them in the morning but can't find it. They shy. Next time I use a torch at night to see.’
Prince’s work weaves together contemporary life and ancestral creation stories. Influenced by the traditional Kimberley craft boab nut carving, desert iconography, television and the characters of the Narrangkarni (Dreamtime), his style is layered, eclectic and vividly expressive. He describes this as ‘all mixed up’. Through this, he reflects the deep connections that bind culture, landscape, animals and people.
You can see the illumination from tonight to 29 May 2026, between 6 pm and 11 pm each night.
You can also see the original artwork on display at Parliament House from now until October 2026 on level 1.
Image: AUSPIC, Department of Parliamentary Services featuring John Prince Siddon (born 1964), Walmajarri people, ‘Numbat Night’, 2024, Parliament House Art Collections. © John Prince Siddon/Copyright Agency, 2026, and image courtesy of artist John Prince Siddon.
