culture
Dandenong's 154 Birthplaces Inspire New Gallery Show on Ecological Futures
The Primary Succession exhibition invites locals to consider regeneration after climate disruption in a setting shaped by the suburb's own layered histories.
How we reported this
Walker Street Gallery and Arts Centre in Dandenong opened Primary Succession on 6 June, an immersive exhibition by Wona Bae and Charlie Lawler that runs until 15 August 2026 and imagines landscapes where human control has receded.
Research grounded in local ecology
The artists spent years examining how colonisation, urban growth and climate pressures have changed the Dandenong area. They spoke with Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation and staff at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria in Cranbourne to anchor the work in the region’s specific plant and land history. The result is a speculative environment that shows succession and regrowth after major disruption.
Greater Dandenong’s mix of residents from more than 154 birthplaces gives the exhibition an immediate local audience already familiar with layered cultural and environmental stories. The gallery’s Wednesday-to-Saturday hours of 11am to 3pm make the show accessible during winter months when many residents look for indoor cultural options near Dandenong Market and the Foster Street precinct.
Practical details for visitors
An opening event on 6 June included a Welcome to Country by Bunurong Elder Uncle Mark Brown, a performance by Ai Yamamoto and a discussion with the artists and curator. The exhibition continues without further ticketed events, so residents can simply turn up during opening hours. The source for these dates and partnerships is the Beat article published at https://beat.com.au/dandenong-gallery-transforms-into-a-post-climate-future-with-a-bold-new-immersive-exhibition/.
Anyone wanting to see how contemporary art in Dandenong is addressing environmental change has a clear window until mid-August. After that the gallery will move on to its next program, part of the ongoing HOME 25 series already running across multiple Dandenong venues.