South Sudanese Community/Akuar Athokbekdit Community in Victoria

Artist: Amal Laala
Title: South Sudanese Community / Akuar Athokbekdit Community in Victoria
Year: 2019
Location: Corner of Timbertop Parade and Fields Street, Aintree (Rockbank)

Group description:

South Sudanese Community group: Akuar Athokbekdit Community in Victoria was founded by people of the Akuar Community to help its members in their settlement process and embrace peace. Most of our members migrated South from the Northern part of Sudan. Our members are mostly families with young children. Akuar means to embrace for peace, Athokbekdit means the beak of a long crane (a peaceful bird). We have been operating as a group for the last 12 months and have started new initiatives in partnership with council such as the Soccer program and participating in festivals such as Harmony Day and Djerriwarrh Festival. The group currently has around 80 members.

Concept:

The work is inspired by the bird mentioned above, the landscape in which it can be found, and the reeds in this area which are of economic significance in South Sudan, used for weaving and bedding. The phrase repeated is a message of hope, written in traditional Dinka language, and executed in blue to symbolise the river where the bird feeds, and a river of hope flowing through community.