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Guli - Radicle Emergence
2026
2 AP, Edition of 10
560mm x 380mm
Silk screen print on somerset
Guli - Radicle Emergence explores the transformative moment of seed germination, when life first reveals itself through the emergence of a root. Drawing on microscopic imagery of native grass seeds, this work magnifies an often-unseen process, celebrating the resilience, vitality, and regenerative power of Indigenous food plants.
At its centre is Guli, a native millet traditionally cultivated, harvested, ground, and baked into bush breads by K/Gamilaroi peoples. The germinating seed becomes both a biological and cultural metaphor - representing renewal, continuity, and the enduring strength of ancestral knowledge.
Through language revitalisation, cultural reclamation, and the active cultivation of native grasses, this work reflects a personal and collective act of return. By reconnecting with traditional practices, I honour the knowledge of my ancestors while contributing to its continuation. Like the emerging root reaching into the earth, Guli - Radicle Emergence speaks to regeneration, cultural resurgence, and the planting of seeds for future generations.
Rachel Bywaters is a multidisciplinary artist and proud Gamilaroi woman of mixed-European heritage, currently living and working on Kabi Kabi Country. Her practice encompasses printmaking, jewellery, sculpture, and installation, and is grounded in a deep commitment to storytelling, cultural expression, and First Nations truth-telling.
She is currently in the final year of a Bachelor of Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art at Griffith University’s Queensland College of Art and Design. Informed by her ancestral lineage and lived experience, Bywaters’ work explores themes of resistance and resilience. Her recent practice incorporates native Gamilaroi grasses—materials imbued with cultural and symbolic significance—to subvert colonial narratives and elevate First Nations perspectives.
Bywaters’ work has been exhibited in group shows including Beneath This Skin at the Queensland State Archives, Undergrowth at the Queensland University Art Galleries, Bonyi: Living Culture at Munimba-ja, and No Souvenirs at the upcoming Horizons Festival. Upcoming exhibitions also include The Shape of Time at Artisan, Glass-Box, Griffith University’s printmaking showcase, and Fresh Eyes at Redcliffe Art Gallery. In 2024, she was invited to judge the Next Generation Art Prize at the Matthew Flinders Art Gallery on Bribie Island, where she currently resides.
Guli - Radicle Emergence
2026
2 AP, Edition of 10
560mm x 380mm
Silk screen print on somerset
Guli - Radicle Emergence explores the transformative moment of seed germination, when life first reveals itself through the emergence of a root. Drawing on microscopic imagery of native grass seeds, this work magnifies an often-unseen process, celebrating the resilience, vitality, and regenerative power of Indigenous food plants.
At its centre is Guli, a native millet traditionally cultivated, harvested, ground, and baked into bush breads by K/Gamilaroi peoples. The germinating seed becomes both a biological and cultural metaphor - representing renewal, continuity, and the enduring strength of ancestral knowledge.
Through language revitalisation, cultural reclamation, and the active cultivation of native grasses, this work reflects a personal and collective act of return. By reconnecting with traditional practices, I honour the knowledge of my ancestors while contributing to its continuation. Like the emerging root reaching into the earth, Guli - Radicle Emergence speaks to regeneration, cultural resurgence, and the planting of seeds for future generations.
Rachel Bywaters is a multidisciplinary artist and proud Gamilaroi woman of mixed-European heritage, currently living and working on Kabi Kabi Country. Her practice encompasses printmaking, jewellery, sculpture, and installation, and is grounded in a deep commitment to storytelling, cultural expression, and First Nations truth-telling.
She is currently in the final year of a Bachelor of Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art at Griffith University’s Queensland College of Art and Design. Informed by her ancestral lineage and lived experience, Bywaters’ work explores themes of resistance and resilience. Her recent practice incorporates native Gamilaroi grasses—materials imbued with cultural and symbolic significance—to subvert colonial narratives and elevate First Nations perspectives.
Bywaters’ work has been exhibited in group shows including Beneath This Skin at the Queensland State Archives, Undergrowth at the Queensland University Art Galleries, Bonyi: Living Culture at Munimba-ja, and No Souvenirs at the upcoming Horizons Festival. Upcoming exhibitions also include The Shape of Time at Artisan, Glass-Box, Griffith University’s printmaking showcase, and Fresh Eyes at Redcliffe Art Gallery. In 2024, she was invited to judge the Next Generation Art Prize at the Matthew Flinders Art Gallery on Bribie Island, where she currently resides.
