The 2025 Ballarat International Foto Biennale, presented by Intrepid, is a dynamic exploration of visual storytelling. At the heart of this year's festival is Lifeforce—a theme that pulses through every frame, exploring identity, resilience, and the unseen energies that shape how people live and connect.
Mumu Mirri which means moth in Wadawurrung language, is a striking new public artwork by Dave Jones in collaboration with Wadawurrung artist and knowledge holder Dr Deanne Gilson. This large-scale commission celebrates the Bogong Moth—an ancient source of sustenance, ceremony and survival for First Nations peoples.
For Dr Gilson's ancestors, the Bogong Moth was a vital food source and a spiritual presence honoured in gatherings and storytelling. Through an imaginative fusion of sculpture and lighting design, Jones brings the moth to life, offering a meditation on ecological balance and cultural continuity.
Installed on the facade of the National Centre for Photography, Ballarat, Mumu Mirri invites festival-goers to reflect on the interconnectedness of all living things and the enduring knowledge embedded in Country.
Proudly supported by Festivals Australia; The John Truscott Design Foundation; and Northrop Engineers. Special thanks to Ontoit, Searle Bros., Michael Taylor Heritage Architects, Shannen Mennen, and Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation.
